Gulu Displaced People Protest Camp Merger

OVER 6000 displaced people at Okungedi camp in Kilak county on Thursday failed to get the World Food programme (WFP) food relief saying they could not travel over five miles to the merged camp at Olwal, reports Dennis Ojwee. They told The New Vision that they were opposed to merging the camps because it would mean travelling a long distance under security risks to look for food in other camps.The camps have been merged into 24, out of 32. “We strongly detest the Government decision, imposed by the army (UPDF) that the IDP camps should be merged into only 24 camps. We find it very difficult for thousands of people, women and the elderly to travel long distances to places like Labongo-Ogali (Okungedi) camp to Olwal, about eight kilometers away or to Amuru,” an LC 3 councillor of Okugendi said.Ruth Butuo Ayoade, the programme officer in charge of the WFP in Gulu, said food was distributed at Awer camp in Lamogi sub-county on Wednesday.The chairman Gulu district disaster preparedness committee, Charles Uma, told The New Vision that Okungedi camp residents refused to travel to Olwal camp because they were demanding for recognition as other people in the 24 camps.He said he had referred the case to the RDC, Max Omeda and to the LC5 chairman, Lt. Col. Walter Ochora.Uma said the merged camps are Kwero, Paicho, Unyama, Awach, Patiko-Ajulu, Lugore and Palaro (Aswa county), Awer, Parabongo, Pabbo, Atiak, Bibia, Olwal and Amuru (Kilak), Alwero, Anaka, Parongo, Aguno and Koch-Goma (Nwoya), Ongako, Opit, Lalogi, Acet and Awere (Omoro). Ends