US Gives North Sh25b Food Aid
Feb 12, 2003
THE AMERICAN government has donated 25,000 metric tonnes of food worth sh25b to the internally displaced people (IDPs) in Acholi sub-region.
By Charles Opolot
THE AMERICAN government has donated 25,000 metric tonnes of food worth sh25b to the internally displaced people (IDPs) in Acholi sub-region.
The donation was announced on Tuesday by the visiting USAID assistant administrator for democracy, conflict and humanitarian assistance, Roger Winter, during his visit to Gulu.
Winter visited Awer IDP camp, Lacor hospital and GUSCO reception centre for formerly abducted children in the company the US ambassador, Jimmy Kolker.
Winter said the donation would be channelled through the World Food Programme (WFP).
He said he was saddened to find only one borehole in the camp which has over 24,000 people. He also noted the acute food shortage, poor sanitation, lack of medical supplies and the naked malnourished children.
“We sympathise with the suffering of people in Acholi sub-region. We feel we have a duty to help you and our immediate interest is to provide humanitarian support but our ultimate interest is the return of peace, something all of us must contribute towards,†Winter said.
At the GUSCO reception centre, Winter listened to former captives narrating their ordeals during captivity.
They told him the reasons for the LRA rebellion and demands by the LRA commanders for a ceasefire and peace negotiations.
Winter, who has been in Uganda for a four-day visit to assess the ongoing food programmes and security situation, leaves for Kenya today.
USAID country director Vicki Moore said the recent food aid brings the total US government food assistance this year to 45,000 metric tonnes, valued at sh42.5b
Moore said at the end of 2002, WFP had estimated that 108,000 metric tonnes of food would be needed in the first six months of 2003.
WFP has appealed to more donors to emulate the US, Japan, Britain, Sweden and the European Union in averting a food crisis in the war- torn northern Ugandan.
Gulu LC5 boss Walter Ochora said three quarters of the district population was in camps.
Ends
THE AMERICAN government has donated 25,000 metric tonnes of food worth sh25b to the internally displaced people (IDPs) in Acholi sub-region.
The donation was announced on Tuesday by the visiting USAID assistant administrator for democracy, conflict and humanitarian assistance, Roger Winter, during his visit to Gulu.
Winter visited Awer IDP camp, Lacor hospital and GUSCO reception centre for formerly abducted children in the company the US ambassador, Jimmy Kolker.
Winter said the donation would be channelled through the World Food Programme (WFP).
He said he was saddened to find only one borehole in the camp which has over 24,000 people. He also noted the acute food shortage, poor sanitation, lack of medical supplies and the naked malnourished children.
“We sympathise with the suffering of people in Acholi sub-region. We feel we have a duty to help you and our immediate interest is to provide humanitarian support but our ultimate interest is the return of peace, something all of us must contribute towards,†Winter said.
At the GUSCO reception centre, Winter listened to former captives narrating their ordeals during captivity.
They told him the reasons for the LRA rebellion and demands by the LRA commanders for a ceasefire and peace negotiations.
Winter, who has been in Uganda for a four-day visit to assess the ongoing food programmes and security situation, leaves for Kenya today.
USAID country director Vicki Moore said the recent food aid brings the total US government food assistance this year to 45,000 metric tonnes, valued at sh42.5b
Moore said at the end of 2002, WFP had estimated that 108,000 metric tonnes of food would be needed in the first six months of 2003.
WFP has appealed to more donors to emulate the US, Japan, Britain, Sweden and the European Union in averting a food crisis in the war- torn northern Ugandan.
Gulu LC5 boss Walter Ochora said three quarters of the district population was in camps.
Ends