UN launches funding appeal for 2002

Humanitarian assistance to Uganda's poor and insecure northern and western regions is crucial to restoring hope, confidence and stability, and to consolidate peace throughout the country, the United Nations stated on Monday as it launched its US $68 million Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal 2002 for Uganda.

That appeal, presented by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), called on donors to ensure that adequate humanitarian assistance was provided to "reduce future vulnerability and promote conditions leading to durable recovery," particularly in the insecure north and west.

Eight UN agencies, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and 10 nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) were included in the consolidated appeal for US $68.10 million to fund 39 projects in 10 areas, including: food, agriculture, health and nutrition, water and sanitation, education, protection and human rights, recovery and infrastructure, coordination and support services, and security and staff safety.

Although the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance declined by nearly 400,000 this year, or about 35 percent, OCHA expressed particular concern over the 717,000 refugees, displaced people and victims of drought remaining in displaced persons camps - or "protection camps" - without sufficient land, shelter and income.

"There is concern that their status will become irrecoverable and that the situation will revert to mayhem if the momentum behind current peace and assistance initiatives is not maintained," OCHA stated.

There is currently no government policy to address the plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Uganda, many of whom have been displaced since 1996. The UN, therefore, emphasised the need for the Ugandan government to "mitigate further crises", using "appropriate and well-targeted interventions, coupled with a political strategy of compromise and accommodation."

UN agencies and NGOs will, in 2002, aim to support Ugandan government efforts to achieve five key objectives: alleviating human suffering; protecting and advancing human rights; providing basic social services; reintegrating former combatants and refugees into society; and, formulating a sustainable national programme for recovery.

Despite a lull in rebel movement and activity in recent months, both in the west and in the north of the country, the situation was still "unstable," according to OCHA. Few agencies believed that the underlying impediments to conflict resolution and peace, which have existed for 16 years and more, would be suddenly removed, it said.

Despite positive changes, "optimism has been dampened by years of harsh experience," it added.

Some US $79.8 million was requested in the 2001 Consolidated Appeal, and this appeal was 50.81 percent funded as of late October. Ten months into the appeal process, there was shortfall of US $44.8 million.

None of the NGOs involved in CAP 2001, many of whom have important comparative advantages, received support for their proposed interventions, according to OCHA. The three key sectors of recovery and infrastructure, protection and human rights, and security and staff safety received no funding under last year's appeal, it stated.

The World Food Programme (WFP) received only 50.81 percent of its requirements under CAP 2001, forcing it to reduce food rations, potentially leading to a higher incidence of malnutrition and nutrition-related diseases this year.

Food-for-work (FFW) programmes aimed at establishing reservoirs, small dams and infrastructure for enhanced food security were, therefore, reduced.

Food requirements for Uganda's displaced and drought-affected population in 2002 are budgeted to cost some US $35 million, according to Monday's appeal.

The ability of agencies to implement a future "exit strategy" will depend on timely investment in Uganda's crisis areas, according to the appeal document.

"Without support for resettlement and the associated infrastructure, agriculture, education and employment development, the humanitarian situation will not improve," it warned.