By Elizabeth Kameo
Nov 20, 2003
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KAMPALA - Uganda has one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, a UN official has said. “Since July 2002 and through 2003, the humanitarian situation in Uganda continued to deteriorate,” Mr Ajmal Qureshi, the country representative of the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation, said on Wednesday at Hotel Africana. Qureshi was speaking at the launch of Uganda’s $127.9 million consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for the year 2004. First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Disaster Preparedness Lt. Gen. Moses Ali attended the launch. Qureshi said the outlook for 2004 is not promising because of attacks by Lord’s Resistance Army rebel attacks in Teso and northern Uganda. The appeal for Uganda will address the urgent humanitarian needs for the 1.2 million people who are displaced in northern Uganda. The UN agencies are appealing for $127,901,055. This amount is about $1.3 million higher than last year’s budget. Qureshi said that the number of internally displaced persons has soared. “Internal displacements in Uganda have so far been going on for the past 17 years and are far from over. Today it is at a staggering 1.2 million as a result of armed conflict, cattle rustling or both in some areas,” Qureshi said. He said Uganda has the fourth largest number of displaced people in the world. More than 1.2 million Ugandans are displaced in 12 districts either because of armed conflict or drought. Qureshi said that there is need to end the war. “The end of Uganda’s conflict lies in a peaceful resolution, not only in humanitarian action,” Qureshi said. |
© 2003 The Monitor Publications
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