Two IDP camps closed in Lira

Sep 12, 2007

TWO camps in Lira district were razed down yesterday as a gesture that most internally displaced persons (IDPs) had returned home. Otwal Railway and Agweng camps in the had been deserted since the peace talks started more than a year ago, according to the UN refugee agency.

By Carol Natukunda

TWO camps in Lira district were razed down yesterday as a gesture that most internally displaced persons (IDPs) had returned home. Otwal Railway and Agweng camps had been deserted since the peace talks started more than a year ago, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), said in a statement.

The disaster preparedness minister Moses Ecweru, a UNHCR official and former displaced persons symbolically closed the camps by demolishing huts and planting trees.

“Some 92% of 466,000 displaced persons in the Lango have returned. This is because of the improved security situation, ongoing peace talks between the Ugandan Government and the Lord’s Resistance Army and generally improved freedom of movement,” the UNHCR said.

A total of 40 camps were established in Lango between 2003 and 2004. The closure of the camps in the region is expected to be completed by mid-2008, at an estimated cost of sh8m per camp.

“The camp closure will include razing empty huts, filling in pit latrines and levelling the land. Where needed, a mine action team will assess the area,” the agency said.

UNHCR said it would transform all residual IDP sites into viable communities. Camp phase-out committees would identify the sites and advise on activities for transformation.

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