DEEPENING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS - "THE ANGUISH OF NORTHERN UGANDA" HARVESTED IN JANUARY, HAVE BEEN LOST, INCREASING THE DEPENDENCY ON ASSISTANCE FROM OUTSIDE.

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 04 ROME 006146 SIPDIS FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME AMEMBASSY KAMPALA FOR AMBASSADOR KOLKER AND USAID DIRECTOR MOORE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 06146 02 OF 04 271818Z USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, DCHA/D/FFP LLANDIS, USAID/GLOBAL/HEALTH, DCHA/OFDA BMCCONNELL STATE FOR IO A/S HOLMES, A/S PRM DEWEY, A/S AFR KANSTEINER, AF/E USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND LREICH NSC FOR JWDORKEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN SUBJECT: DEEPENING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS - "THE ANGUISH OF NORTHERN UGANDA" HARVESTED IN JANUARY, HAVE BEEN LOST, INCREASING THE DEPENDENCY ON ASSISTANCE FROM OUTSIDE. ¶7. DESPITE THE ON GOING DELIVERY OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE INCLUDING FOOD CONVOYS PROTECTED BY THE UGANDAN ARMY ORGANIZED BY WFP, THE OVERALL PICTURE IN THE PROTECTED VILLAGES IS ONE OF SEVERE DESTITUTION, WITH POPULATIONS REDUCED TO DEPENDENCY, IDLENESS AND DEBILITATING UNCERTAINTY. THE POPULATIONS OF THE IDP CAMPS ARE TIGHTLY PACKED TOGETHER, OFTEN WITH ONLY AN ARM'S LENGTH BETWEEN HOUSES. (A WALK THROUGH ALERO CAMP REVEALED THAT PERSONAL ASSETS ARE INDEED MEAGER.) ¶8. PRESENTLY, THE ABILITY OF DISTRICT AUTHORITIES AND NON- GOVERNMENTAL (NGO) ORGANIZATIONS TO DELIVER SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE TO THESE VILLAGES/CAMPS IS SEVERELY LIMITED. MANY CAMP SCHOOLS ARE EFFECTIVELY CLOSED BECAUSE PARENTS ARE AFRAID THAT THE REBELS WILL RAID THE SCHOOLS AND KIDNAP THEIR CHILDREN. NOTE: REPORTEDLY, OVER THE YEARS, THE LRA HAS ABDUCTED MORE THAN 14,000 CHILDREN. END NOTE. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 06146 02 OF 04 271818Z ¶9. ON PAST OCCASIONS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS COMMENTED CRITICALLY ON THE LESS THAN ADEQUATE CONDITIONS OF THE DISPLACED CAMPS IN THE ACHOLI REGION. IN THE USAID- COMMISSIONED GERSONY REPORT ("THE ANGUISH OF NORTHERN UGANDA" - AUGUST 1997),THE AUTHOR CONCLUDED: "IN SUM, THE GULU-PROTECTED VILLAGES HAVE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC LOSSES, [ARE] INADEQUATELY ORGANIZED AND HAVE INCREASED DISAFFECTION FROM THE GOVERNMENT AT A TIME WHEN PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE INSURGENTS WAS AT ITS LOWEST EBB.THE PROTECTED VILLAGE POLICY MERITS SERIOUS RE-EVALUATION AND SHOULD BE PHASED OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE." -------------- THE LRA - WHAT ARE THEY? -------------- ¶10. THE LRA HAS, AT THE VERY LEAST, MANY OF THE ATTRIBUTES OF A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION: IT LACKS ANY CLEARLY FORMULATED POLITICAL OBJECTIVE, IT TENDS TO AVOID DIRECT CONTACT WITH OPPOSING ARMED FORCES, AND ITS HOLD ON THE PEOPLE OF THE REGION DERIVES DIRECTLY FROM THE TERROR IT INSPIRES. BY TARGETING CIVILIANS ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY, THE LRA WOULD APPEAR TO FIT THE CLASSIC TERRORIST DEFINITION. -------------- -------------- ESCALATING NUMBERS OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED IN NORTHERN UGANDA -------------- -------------- ¶11. ACCORDING TO WFP/UGANDA, THE FOLLOWING POPULATIONS ARE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 06146 02 OF 04 271818Z LIVING IN IDP CAMPS IN THE 3 DISTRICTS: GULU, 385,000 (33 CAMPS); KITGUM, 116,000 (7 CAMPS); PADER, UP TO 271,000 (20 CAMPS). TOTAL 772,000. NOTE: THE NUMBERS FOR PADER HAVE NOT BEEN VERIFIED; WFP RECEIVED A LETTER FROM UGANDA'S OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER DATED NOVEMBER 11 REQUESTING URGENT ASSISTANCE FOR 19 NEW CAMPS IN PADER DISTRICT TO ASSIST 204,780 NEWLY DISPLACED. MOREOVER, SEVERAL SOURCES TOLD THE TEAM IN GULU THAT "EVERY TRADING CENTER IN PADER HAS BECOME AN IDP CAMP." END NOTE. 47,000 IDPS ARE PRESENTLY REPORTED TO HAVE SOUGHT REFUGE IN LIRA MUNICIPALITY AND APACH DISTRICT. IF THE SITUATION WORSENS IN PADER, THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER MOVEMENT INTO THESE ADJACENT DISTRICTS. ¶12. WFP'S CURRENT NUMBERS ARE HIGHER THAN THE NOVEMBER ESTIMATES OF 735,000 MADE BY DISTRICT AUTHORITIES, THE GOU AND HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES, AND CONSIDERABLY HIGHER THAN THE 2003 WFP IDP PLANNING FIGURE OF 494,457 (CONTAINED IN THE WFP PROTRACTED RELIEF AND RECOVERY OPERATION APPROVED IN FEBRUARY 2002). MOREOVER, WFP FOOD NEEDS ASSESSMENTS FOR THESE DISTRICTS ARE AT THE MOMENT ON HOLD DUE TO INSECURITY. UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1507 PAGE 01 ROME 06146 03 OF 04 271819Z ACTION AID-00 INFO LOG-00 AF-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00 /007W -------------- 1D6A7D 271819Z /02 P 271540Z DEC 02 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7502 USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 2467 INFO AMEMBASSY NAIROBI AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM AMEMBASSY KIGALI AMEMBASSY KINSHASA AMEMBASSY OTTAWA EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE USEU BRUSSELS 3033 USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USUN NEW YORK UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 04 ROME 006146 SIPDIS FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME AMEMBASSY KAMPALA FOR AMBASSADOR KOLKER AND USAID DIRECTOR UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 06146 03 OF 04 271819Z MOORE USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, DCHA/D/FFP LLANDIS, USAID/GLOBAL/HEALTH, DCHA/OFDA BMCCONNELL STATE FOR IO A/S HOLMES, A/S PRM DEWEY, A/S AFR KANSTEINER, AF/E USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND LREICH NSC FOR JWDORKEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN SUBJECT: DEEPENING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS - "THE ANGUISH OF NORTHERN UGANDA" -------------- REFUGEE POPULATIONS IN UGANDA -------------- ¶13. ALTHOUGH NOT A MAJOR FOCUS OF THIS VISIT, WFP HAS A CASELOAD OF BOTH SUDANESE (165,930 PERSONS LIVING IN 62 SETTLEMENTS IN FIVE DISTRICTS) AND RWANDESE/CONGOLESE (27,055 PERSONS LIVING IN FOUR SETTLEMENTS IN THREE DISTRICTS). THE ONLY DURABLE SOLUTION TO THE REFUGEE PROBLEM IN UGANDA IS CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN (SOUTHERN SUDAN, RWANDA AND DRC),REPATRIATION AND RESETTLEMENT. THE INTERMEDIATE SOLUTION FOR REFUGEE SELF- RELIANCE IN UGANDA RELATES TO THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF LAND ALLOCATED TO REFUGEES, INCOME ACQUISITION STRATEGIES AND OTHER COPING MECHANISMS. -------------- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 06146 03 OF 04 271819Z -------------- ¶14. THERE IS A DEEPENING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN NORTHERN UGANDA AND INCREASED NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION IS NEEDED TO PREVENT STARVATION, ALLEVIATE SUFFERING AND PROTECT THE WELFARE OF DISPLACED PERSONS, PARTICULARLY CHILDREN. ¶15. GOU NEEDS TO FURTHER ENHANCE ITS EFFORTS TO ENSURE THE SAFE AND CONTINUOUS DELIVERY OF RELIEF SUPPLIES AND SERVICES TO NEEDY POPULATIONS IN THE REGION. (EMBASSY HAS CONSISTENTLY RAISED THIS MATTER WITH THE GOU.) ONE SPECIFIC SUGGESTION WOULD BE GOU REPAIR/MAINTENANCE OF THE LIRA- KITGUM ROAD, WHICH HAS APPARENTLY DETERIORATED OVER THE RECENT RAINY SEASON. ¶16. GOU SHOULD PRIORITIZE A TRANSITIONAL FRAMEWORK TO MEET IDP NEEDS, INVOLVING BOTH ASSET BUILDING AND ACCUMULATION FOR THIS TARGET POPULATION. ¶17. WHILE RECOGNIZING SECURITY CONSTRAINTS, A NUTRITION SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE PUT IN PLACE BY THE UN (WORKING WITH NGOS AS APPROPRIATE) TO TRACK TRENDS IN NUTRITIONAL STATUS, FOOD SECURITY AND RELATED ISSUES. SPECIFIC ATTENTION MAY BE PAID TO MONITORING THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN UNDER FIVE AND CRUDE MORTALITY RATE (CMR). WFP AND ITS PRINCIPAL IMPLEMENTING PARTNER NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL ARE REQUESTED TO RECOMMENCE POST- DISTRIBUTION MONITORING WHEREVER POSSIBLE. OTHER NGOS WHERE APPROPRIATE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO ACCOMPANY WFP PROTECTED CONVOYS. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 06146 03 OF 04 271819Z ¶18. WITH ESCALATING BENEFICIARY NUMBERS IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICTS, GOU IS ENCOURAGED TO STEP UP ITS OWN FOOD CONTRIBUTIONS TO WFP. (EMBASSY HAS ALREADY RAISED THIS WITH THE GOU.) ¶19. GIVEN THAT THE EXTANT WFP/PRRO WAS APPROVED IN FEBRUARY 2002, WFP NEEDS TO IMMEDIATELY RE-WRITE PARTS OF THE PRRO TO REFLECT THE NEW REALITIES ON THE GROUND. GIVEN THE STREAMLINING OF ITS TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS FROM MOMBASSA, THE PRESENT LTSH (LANDSIDE TRANSPORT, STORAGE AND HANDLING) RATE OF USD 167/METRIC TON (OF WHICH USD 95 IS IN-COUNTRY) NEEDS REVIEW AGAINST ACTUALS AND PROBABLE DOWNWARD ADJUSTMENT. ¶20. USAID/FFP NEEDS TO PRIORITIZE FOOD ALLOCATIONS FOR THE WFP UGANDA PRRO AND GIVEN THE PIPELINE BREAK (FROM DECEMBER 2002-JUNE 2003 THE SHORTFALL IS PROJECTED AT 39,815 METRIC TONS, WITH 70 PERCENT RATIONS DELIVERED ON AVERAGE SINCE LATE OCTOBER DUE TO LACK OF FOOD),STATE/PRM MAY WISH TO CONSIDER A CASH CONTRIBUTION IN THE RANGE OF USD ONE MILLION. UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1508 PAGE 01 ROME 06146 04 OF 04 271820Z ACTION AID-00 INFO LOG-00 AF-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00 /007W -------------- 1D6A8F 271820Z /02 P 271540Z DEC 02 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7503 USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 2468 INFO AMEMBASSY NAIROBI AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM AMEMBASSY KIGALI AMEMBASSY KINSHASA AMEMBASSY OTTAWA EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE USEU BRUSSELS 3034 USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USUN NEW YORK UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 04 ROME 006146 SIPDIS FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME AMEMBASSY KAMPALA FOR AMBASSADOR KOLKER AND USAID DIRECTOR MOORE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 06146 04 OF 04 271820Z USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, DCHA/D/FFP LLANDIS, USAID/GLOBAL/HEALTH, DCHA/OFDA BMCCONNELL STATE FOR IO A/S HOLMES, A/S PRM DEWEY, A/S AFR KANSTEINER, AF/E USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND LREICH NSC FOR JWDORKEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN SUBJECT: DEEPENING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS - "THE ANGUISH OF NORTHERN UGANDA" ¶21. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WFP, THE UN'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE NORTH IS MARGINAL. GIVEN THE COMPLEXITY, MAGNITUDE AND FLUIDITY OF THE SITUATION, THE UN'S OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS (OCHA) NEEDS TO APPOINT AN EXPERIENCED HEAD OF OFFICE FOR THIS OPERATION. ¶22. THE UN IS ENCOURAGED, IN THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEXT UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE, TO SELECT SOMEONE WITH SOLID HUMANITARIAN EXPERIENCE. ¶23. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD CONTINUE TO VIGOROUSLY CONDEMN THE ABDUCTION OF CHILDREN BY THE LRA, AND URGE THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF ALL CHILD SOLDIERS AND CHILDREN AFFILIATED WITH COMBATANTS IN THE REGION. THIS WILL NECESSARILY INCLUDE INCREASING FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR DEMOBILIZATION AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMS FOR CHILD SOLDIERS, WITH ADEQUATE RESOURCES PROVIDED FOR PROGRAM MONITORING AND IMPLEMENTATION. LOCAL NGOS (SUCH AS GULU SUPPORT THE CHILDREN ORGANIZATION - GUSCO),CARITAS, AND THE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 06146 04 OF 04 271820Z UGANDAN RED CROSS WOULD WELCOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. ¶24. FAO NEEDS TO REESTABLISH AN EMERGENCY SEEDS AND TOOLS PRESENCE IN THE NORTHERN REGION. ¶25. WFP AND ITS SISTER UN AGENCIES SHOULD INTENSIFY DIALOGUE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF RED CROSS/RED CRESCENT (IFRC) RELATED TO FURTHER STRENGTHENING OF THE UGANDAN RED CROSS IN HUMANITARIAN OUTREACH. ¶26. WFP SHOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE PROMOTION OF WOMEN TO POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP, AND PARTICULARLY THEIR PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES. INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED. ¶27. WFP LOCAL COMMODITY PROCUREMENT (87,548 MTS OF CEREALS, PULSES AND BLENDED FOODS IN 2001-2002, VALUED AT USD 16.3 MILLION) IS LAUDABLE, AND WITH A WIDER DONOR BASE, COULD BE FURTHER EXPANDED. ¶28. FINALLY, THE EFFORTS OF THE ACHOLI RELIGIOUS LEADERS PEACE INITIATIVE (ARPLI) MERIT CONTINUING REVIEW. CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP JOHN BAPTIST ODAMA OF GULU (WITH WHOM THE TEAM MET) IS A POWERFUL VOICE FOR PEACE BUILDING AND RECONCILIATION THROUGHOUT THE NORTH. ¶29. MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. HALL UNCLASSIFIED > @@@OASYS@@@ UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1505 PAGE 01 ROME 06146 01 OF 02 271817Z ACTION AID-00 INFO LOG-00 AF-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00 /007W -------------- 1D6A69 271817Z /02 P 271540Z DEC 02 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7500 USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 2465 INFO AMEMBASSY NAIROBI AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM AMEMBASSY KIGALI AMEMBASSY KINSHASA AMEMBASSY OTTAWA EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE USEU BRUSSELS 3031 USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USUN NEW YORK UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 006146 SIPDIS FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME AMEMBASSY KAMPALA FOR AMBASSADOR KOLKER AND USAID DIRECTOR UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 06146 01 OF 02 271817Z MOORE USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, DCHA/D/FFP LLANDIS, USAID/GLOBAL/HEALTH, DCHA/OFDA BMCCONNELL STATE FOR IO A/S HOLMES, A/S PRM DEWEY, A/S AFR KANSTEINER, AF/E USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND LREICH NSC FOR JWDORKEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN SUBJECT: DEEPENING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS - "THE ANGUISH OF NORTHERN UGANDA" REF: (A) KAMPALA 3065 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. USMISSION/ROME HUMANITARIAN ATTACHE VISITED UGANDA DECEMBER 18-23, AND TRAVELED IN GULU DISTRICT IN THE NORTHERN REGION. SERIOUS INSECURITY THROUGHOUT THE REGION (GULU, KITGUM, LIRA AND PADER DISTRICTS) HAS LED TO THE DISPLACEMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 735,000 PEOPLE INTO CONGESTED SETTLEMENTS. THESE INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS) ARE LARGELY DEPENDENT ON HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES (PARTICULARLY WFP AND A HANDFUL OF NGOS) FOR A MAJOR PORTION OF THEIR FOOD AND BASIC SERVICES. THERE IS GROWING CONCERN THAT CONTINUING INSECURITY WILL NOT PERMIT IDPS ACCESS TO THEIR HOMES AND FIELDS TO CULTIVATE FOOD IN THE MAJOR CROPPING SEASON WHICH BEGINS IN MARCH 2003. END SUMMARY. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 06146 01 OF 02 271817Z -------------- -------------- BACKGROUND - "GOVERNMENT SAYS WAR IS UNDER CONTROL WHEN THE REALITY IS THAT THE LOCAL SITUATION IS OUT OF CONTROL" (NGO REPRESENTATIVE BASED IN GULU) -------------- -------------- ¶2. USMISSION/ROME HUMANITARIAN ATTACHE TIM LAVELLE VISITED UGANDA DECEMBER 18-23 2002, AND TRAVELED WITH USAID FOOD FOR PEACE OFFICERS WALTER WELZ AND BRIAN BACON, AND WORLD FOOD PROGRAM STAFF (THE TRIP'S ABLE FACILITATOR) TO GULU DISTRICT INCLUDING THE ALERO DISPLACED PERSONS CAMP (35 KILOMETERS SOUTH WEST OF GULU, WHERE AN ESTIMATED 17,219 RESIDE). ¶3. IN MARCH 2002, THE GOU LAUNCHED A MASSIVE COUNTERINSURGENCY MEASURE CALLED "IRON FIST" - TO SEARCH OUT AND DESTROY LORD'S RESISTANCE ARMY (LRA) BASES. THIS HAS UNEXPECTEDLY PROMPTED THE ENTRY OF AN ESTIMATED 2000-3000 LRA FORCES INTO UGANDA FROM SOUTHERN SUDAN, RESULTING IN INTENSIFIED ATTACKS ON THE CIVIL POPULATIONS IN THE NORTHERN REGION. AT PRESENT, PADER DISTRICT IS VIRTUALLY INACCESSIBLE TO UN STAFF WHERE THIS MONTH A WFP FOOD CONVOY TRAVELING ON THE LIRA-KITGUM ROAD NARROWLY ESCAPED AN AMBUSH. NOTE: THE ECONOMIC COST TO THE NATION OF THE CONFLICT IN THE NORTH IS REPORTEDLY ESTIMATED AT ABOUT USD 100 MILLION/ANNUM, OR SOME THREE PERCENT OF GDP. -------------- -------------- THE "PROTECTED VILLAGE CONCEPT - "IPURO KI LWORO/YOU DIG WITH FEAR" -------------- -------------- UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 06146 01 OF 02 271817Z ¶4. THE THREE DISTRICTS OF GULU, KITGUM AND PADER ARE HOME TO MOST OF THE ACHOLI PEOPLE OF UGANDA. "PROTECTED VILLAGES" WERE CREATED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF UGANDA (GOU) AS A MEANS OF ISOLATING THE CIVILIAN POPULATION FROM THE LRA WHILE REDUCING THE ABILITY OF THE REBEL FORCE TO STRENGTHEN ITSELF THROUGH LOOTING AND ABDUCTIONS AND PREVENTING THE LRA FROM RECEIVING ACTIVE ASSISTANCE FROM THE POPULATION. ¶5. IN GULU DISTRICT, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE VILLAGES FOLLOWED A DECISION BY THE MILITARY AUTHORITIES IN 1996. IN KITGUM/PADER, THE VILLAGES WERE MORE OFTEN ESTABLISHED AS A RESULT OF THE FLIGHT BY RURAL RESIDENTS FOLLOWING LRA ATTACKS IN 1995-97. ¶6. LIVING IN THE VILLAGES HAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGED THE LIVELIHOODS OF THE PEOPLE IN THE 3 DISTRICTS. UNTIL EARLY 2002, MANY HAD ACCESS TO THEIR LAND, WHICH ALLOWED THEM TO GROW SOME FOOD CROPS. WITH A RESURGENCE OF LRA ACTIVITIES IN APRIL, HOWEVER, HARVESTS OF MANY IDPS HAVE BEEN LOOTED, BURNT BY THE REBELS. MOREOVER, THE TIMING OF LRA ACTIVITIES INTERFERED WITH THE SECOND-SEASON CROPPING, (AUGUST- OCTOBER). CONSEQUENTLY, GAINS FROM LOCAL PRODUCTION, USUALLY UNCLASSIFIED > 2002ROME06146 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED