Northern Uganda: EU Commission provides additional €4m in humanitarian aid for displaced people

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The European Commission has allocated €4 million to improve the humanitarian situation for more than one million internally displaced people (IDPs) living in camps in Northern Uganda. They have been displaced as a result of the rebel Lord's Resistance Army insurgence. A recent cessation of hostilities means that a number of camp-based IDPs wish to go back home. The Commission's humanitarian aid focuses on those who can safely return. At the same time, it aims to improve living conditions in the camps for those with few opportunities for return in the near future. In January, the Commission provided €15 million in humanitarian aid for vulnerable people in northern and central parts of the country (see IP/05/1711).

The 20-year long conflict in Northern Uganda continues to affect up to two million people - of whom at least 1.4 million are displaced and living in "protected villages" or camps. The Commission's humanitarian aid focuses on the most vulnerable IDPs. Funds are used to improve living conditions in the camps while maintaining flexibility to support return when and where it is safe and when the displaced voluntarily opt to go back to their homes.

Commission support for the UN 'cluster approach'

The Commission funding is helping to improve the quality, coordination and impact of relief services to IDP camps in Northern Uganda, addressing basic humanitarian needs in the form of health care, water supply and sanitation as well as protection. Recurrent, protracted cholera outbreaks in IDP camps, for example, are a clear indication of the need to improve water supplies, sanitation and hygiene practices.

The decision by the United Nations Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) to nominate Uganda as a pilot country for the implementation of the UN 'cluster approach¹ provides the country with an opportunity to improve the coordination and the management of humanitarian assistance. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), for example, is responsible overall for the protection of displaced persons. UNICEF coordinates activities in the water, sanitation and health sectors. The cluster approach envisages improving the provision of relief to IDP camps whose population is largely dependent on humanitarian assistance. The Commission is supporting the roll-out of the cluster approach in Northern Uganda with its funding decision.

Background

Since 2004, the Commission has adopted six humanitarian decisions relating to Uganda for a total of more than €51.6 million, including today's allocation. Projects are implemented by non-governmental relief organisations, specialised UN agencies and the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement.

All funds are channelled through the Commission's Humanitarian Aid department, ECHO, under the responsibility of Louis Michel, Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid. ECHO has a support office in Uganda's capital, Kampala. It closely follows developments in the humanitarian situation and monitors the use of the Commission's relief funds.

For further information:
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/index_en.htm


¹ A 'cluster' is defined as a group of organisations and other stakeholders (UN agencies and NGOs) working together to address the needs in a 'sector' of humanitarian activity like health, water and sanitation, protection.

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• EU Council Conclusions on Northern Uganda (13/11/2006)
• Horn of Africa: European Commission earmarks further €10 million to improve drought preparedness (13/6/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions on Uganda (15/5/2006)
• EU deploys Election Observation Mission to Uganda (13/2/2006)
• Africa's "silent tsunamis": Commission adopts humanitarian aid decisions worth €165.7m (26/12/2005)