By Steven Candia and Adam Alagiah

THE resettlement process of IDPs in northern and north-eastern Uganda and the programme to combat the deadly avian flu (bird flu) received a boost after the Government and FAO signed three grants totalling US$1.6m (about sh3.65b).

The three grants are the improved livelihoods and income diversification among households in the war-torn regions, worth $877,503; Agricultural interventions and livelihood support to IDPs and returnees, worth $753,174 and the development of a response to Avian Influenza worth $44,250.

Signing the grants at the finance ministry on Thursday, Finance Permanent Secretary Chris Kassami described the signing as a “landmark occasion,” while FAO country representative Percy Misika said the grants were to bolster the country’s ability to respond to disasters.

The first two grants, Kassami said, were aimed at promoting sources of income-generating activities in a bid to reduce what he described as the “chronic and acute food insecurity” for households in the war-torn Acholi and Lango regions.

The third grant, he said, will facilitate the development of a national strategy to respond to an outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza. The grant, he said, was timely.

“This assistance will definitely go a long way in facilitating government efforts in trying to ensure that the people in IDP camps resettle in their homes and ensuring their sustainability in the long run,” he said.

Misika said whereas the two grants would target 138,100 returnees, especially in the Lango and Teso sub-regions, the Avian Influenza project was for the whole country.

The grants were provided by the European Commission humanitarian Coordination Office, the Swedish government and British government through DFID.