UN Emergency Relief Coordinator urges action to help displaced in Uganda

The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator today hailed an initiative by the Government of Uganda to help people forced by to flee their homes by rebels from the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).

“With the current intolerable conditions for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Northern Uganda, I welcome the Government of Uganda’s launch today of the Joint Monitoring Committee,” said Jan Egeland. “It will be judged by how it manages to change conditions for the better,” he added.

The newly launched Committee was proposed by the Government of Uganda in Geneva on 20 March. The JMC is composed of Ugandan government officials and partners including bilateral and multi-lateral donors, the World Bank, UN Humanitarian Coordinator and members of national and international civil society.

In consultation with bilateral and multilateral partners, the Government has now prepared its Emergency Plan for Humanitarian Interventions in Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) Affected Areas of Northern Uganda.

The Plan takes into consideration numerous interventions currently ongoing in the north by Government and other partners in conflict-affected areas, enhanced protection of the civilian population, increased humanitarian assistance to IDPs, peace building and reconciliation, according to OCHA.

“For this to succeed, those involved must engage so that we can see actual results on the ground – fewer deaths, better conditions and increased returns,” Mr. Egeland stressed.