ACT appeals for $2.7 million for northern IDPs

Hundreds of thousands of people, forced from their homes into internally displaced persons' (IDP) camps by the protracted war in northern Uganda, are in desperate need of support, the NGO, Action by Churches Together (ACT), said. Announcing an appeal for over US $2.7 million for the IDPs on Wednesday, ACT said the majority of those affected by the hostilities in the region were women and children. For example, an estimated 44,000 children, known as "night commuters", travel from their homes each night to nearby towns to seek shelter and security. Due to the activities of the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), the appeal noted, the situation in Uganda had been relentlessly violent and insecure for 18 years. ACT targets 290,000 people in IDP camps in the northern districts of Adjumani, Kitgum and Katakwi. The report depicted the situation as dismal in the camps, noting that water-borne diseases, malnutrition and over-crowding were widespread. Referring to the situation as "an acute humanitarian crisis", ACT observed that due to overcrowding in the camps, there had been an increase in the abuse of girls and women walking long distances to fetch water. The situation was aggravated by an increased abuse of alcohol by men who, ACT said, had been stripped of their livelihoods. The appeal observed, however, that following an apparent weakening of the LRA since April 2004, the security situation in some districts had improved and food packages had begun to reach their intended beneficiaries. The LRA has fought a 19-year war in northern Uganda against the government of Yoweri Museveni and has gained notoriety for its brutality. Tens of thousands have been killed in the conflict and the rebels have abducted over 20,000 children to serve as soldiers, porters or sex slaves of LRA commanders. At least 1.6 million are displaded from their homes.