Emergency Relief Coordinator stresses need for results in Uganda

(New York: 4 May 2006): "With the current intolerable conditions for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Northern Uganda, I welcome the Government of Uganda's launch today of the Joint Monitoring Committee," said United Nations Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Jan Egeland. "It will be judged by how it manages to change conditions for the better," he added.
On 31 March, Egeland met with Uganda's President Museveni and held discussions that centred on the situation in northern Uganda with special emphasis on the need to improve conditions in the camps for internally displaced persons and to do more to protect civilians. During the discussions, Egeland welcomed the proposed Joint Monitoring Committee and also discussed the possibility of working with military experts with high-level peacekeeping and protection experience attached to them through the United Nations. President Museveni and the USG also discussed the idea of a regional Special Envoy, the possibility that a United Nations agency could support the Government's efforts to promote national reconciliation, the establishment of a joint health task force, and the demilitarization of protection of civilians.

The newly launched Joint Monitoring Committee was proposed by the Government of Uganda in Geneva on 20 March. In consultation with bilateral and multilateral partners, the Government has now prepared the Emergency Plan for Humanitarian Interventions in Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) Affected Areas of Northern Uganda. The Plan takes into consideration numerous interventions currently ongoing in the north by Government and other partners in conflict-affected areas, enhanced protection of the civilian population, increased humanitarian assistance to IDPs, peace building and reconciliation. In addition, the Government is finalizing a comprehensive National Peace, Recovery, and Development plan (PRDP) for Northern Uganda, which incorporates all of the above.

The Government aims to intensify its efforts for ending the conflict and lay the foundation for reconciliation in cooperation with bilateral and multilateral partners in the region and outside; to enhance protection of civilian population; to improve living conditions in the Internal Displaced Persons (IDP) camps; and to prepare for return and reintegration in a more coordinated manner.

The JMC is composed of Ugandan government officials and partners including bilateral and multi-lateral donors, the World Bank, United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator, and members of national and international civil society.

"For this to succeed, those involved must engage so that we can see actual results on the ground-fewer deaths, better conditions, and increased returns," said Egeland.

For further information, please call: Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; Kristen Knutson, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 9262; Elizabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile +41 79 473 4570.