Distribute relief kits immediately

Apr 11, 2007

EDITOR’S COMMENT<br><br>There is a disagreement between the Minister for Relief and Disaster Preparedness and some local leaders from northern Uganda over the distribution of relief kits.

EDITOR’S COMMENT

There is a disagreement between the Minister for Relief and Disaster Preparedness and some local leaders from northern Uganda over the distribution of relief kits.

These kits were part of the resettlement packages sent to assist former internally displaced persons as they go back home. However, some districts including Kitgum are yet to distribute the items, citing lack of fuel as the main reason.

It is surprising that a whole district can fail to get fuel to distribute such important items. Districts that have successfully carried out the distribution, have among other methods worked hand in hand with NGOs and agencies like the World Food Programme, who have assisted in the distribution.

Local leaders must realise that keeping such items in stores renders them useless. These items were not meant to rust away in stores, but rather to be used by returning IDPs to improve food security. Districts should consider distribution of these items as a priority, since the rainy season is starting soon.

This is land preparation and planting time. Failure to give out the kits is doing a disservice to the people and betraying all the hope that they had in local leaders.

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