Red Cross gives IDPs last seeds
Feb 16, 2010
THE International Committee of the Red Cross has launched its last seed distribution to the former internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northern Uganda.
By Chris Ocowun
THE International Committee of the Red Cross has launched its last seed distribution to the former internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northern Uganda.
The assistance will benefit over 58,000 IDPs in Kitgum district ahead of the new planting season.
Each family will receive 28kg of assorted cereal and legume seeds, enough to plant at least two acres of land.
During the launch of the distribution last week, Janet Angelei, the Red Cross economic security coordinator, said: “These farmers have problems accessing seeds because the harvest from the second planting season could not compensate for the losses incurred due to the prolonged dry spell in the first.â€
Angelei added that last year, the Red Cross gave about 110,000 former IDPs in Amuru, Kitgum and Pader districts agricultural input to boost production.
Ynske Vandormael, the head of the Red Cross in Gulu, said they -have worked in Uganda since 1979. As peace is being restored in the north, the organisation is gradually scaling down its activities in the region.
“The Red Cross office in Pader was closed in January 2009. The office in Gulu will be closed next week. The process will be completed with the closure of our office in Kitgum in the middle of the year,†she explained.
THE International Committee of the Red Cross has launched its last seed distribution to the former internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northern Uganda.
The assistance will benefit over 58,000 IDPs in Kitgum district ahead of the new planting season.
Each family will receive 28kg of assorted cereal and legume seeds, enough to plant at least two acres of land.
During the launch of the distribution last week, Janet Angelei, the Red Cross economic security coordinator, said: “These farmers have problems accessing seeds because the harvest from the second planting season could not compensate for the losses incurred due to the prolonged dry spell in the first.â€
Angelei added that last year, the Red Cross gave about 110,000 former IDPs in Amuru, Kitgum and Pader districts agricultural input to boost production.
Ynske Vandormael, the head of the Red Cross in Gulu, said they -have worked in Uganda since 1979. As peace is being restored in the north, the organisation is gradually scaling down its activities in the region.
“The Red Cross office in Pader was closed in January 2009. The office in Gulu will be closed next week. The process will be completed with the closure of our office in Kitgum in the middle of the year,†she explained.