10/22/2002

RI arrived at Lalogi internally displaced persons (IDP) camp just hours after the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels had entered a village about a mile away and burned 48 huts and all the food supplies. Two days earlier, rebels had looted the same village and abducted 15 people to carry the looted supplies—mainly animals and bicycles. Later that day, about 4 kilometers out of town, the Ugandan People’s Defense Force (UPDF), the national army, fought with the rebels, recovered the looted goods, and rescued the kidnapped villagers. An older man who had been abducted explained, “The rebels are the vultures of the area. They really like meat.” People from the attacked village had fled to Lalogi for safety, and the residents of Lalogi were now afraid that they would be the rebels’ next targets.

The UN World Food Program (WFP), despite the ongoing insecurity in Gulu district, continues to deliver food to the 350,000 IDPs in camps. Since July, when LRA attacks in northern Uganda intensified, NGOs have been forced to curtail their activities outside of Gulu town. Most NGOs will not travel with military escorts, but WFP staff travel in armored vehicles escorted by armored personnel carriers and about 70 heavily armed members of the UPDF. That day, WFP was delivering food to the 3,766 families living in Lalogi camp. Due to fear of rebel attacks and UPDF prohibitions on leaving the camp, people have not been able to go to their fields to plant and harvest food. A woman explained, “Because of a lack of food, we must go to our land, but when we go, the UPDF stop us and cause problems for us.” As a result, IDPs are almost totally dependent on food provided by WFP. Each month, they patiently wait for the delivery of the only assistance they receive.

The Government of Uganda technically has the responsibility for providing protection and assistance to the IDPs living in camps. In the past, NGOs were providing education, healthcare and other community services. With the intensification of the war in the north, the Government has been unable to provide the necessary security in northern Uganda for the NGOs to carry out their activities. Therefore, IDPs in camps are living without either protection or adequate assistance.

According to official statements, the Government began forcing people into camps in 1996 as a way of protecting the civilian population of Gulu district. Lalogi camp is crowded, people have few economic opportunities, and many expressed their desire to return to their villages. People living in Lalogi camp do not feel protected. Instead they live in continual fear of LRA attacks and, in some cases, abuses by UPDF soldiers. Every IDP RI interviewed expressed concerns about security. One woman explained, “We are helpless here. We thought the government would help us here, but they have not.” The displaced explained that there is a permanent force of 20-30 UPDF soldiers at the camp and there are mobile units that come every two or three days. Several IDPs said that when the LRA attack, the soldiers run. At night, camp residents sleep in the bush to hide from the rebels. Reportedly, UPDF soldiers also sleep in the bush and are therefore unable to protect the camp at night. One woman said, ‘The UPDF are trying, but they are getting defeated. They are afraid of the rebels—just like we are.”

Not only do people fear LRA attacks, but also abuses by UPDF soldiers. NGOs report that UPDF abuses have increased in recent months as insecurity in the region has increased. A camp resident reported, “Some of the government troops loot from the villages and they are also burning some places. We heard this is mostly because they think that those left there are rebels. The places we left are now being burned.” Another added, “Some of the government troops are hurting [raping] women, but most are not doing [this].”

On October 3, 2002 the Government of Uganda gave people in Gulu an ultimatum—all villagers must move into IDP camps within 48 hours or they would be at risk of getting caught in the middle of a UPDF offensive against the rebels and possibly considered rebel collaborators. People reported that they did not want to leave their villages for many reasons, including that it is now harvest and planting season. One man told RI, “I came from 18 kilometers from here because of the 48 hour order. I came with my family and the people in that area. Beans were left in the field. We request kindly that people can go to work so that they can harvest.” If the beans are not harvested now, they will be rotten within a few weeks. Furthermore, since the camps are in insecure areas, agencies have not been able to provide any non-food items to the camp. “I have eight children but we don’t have a cooking pot. It was burned [by the rebels]. We have no cooking materials.” Nor have people been provided with plastic sheeting, although the camp has more people than the homes can accommodate. Families reported that they are now housing 10-20 people in their small huts.

When asked what one IDP would like to say to the international community, he replied, “What we want is just, if the Government of Uganda can accept, to go back to our original homes. This system of forcing people to come to camps is not the solution. In addition, if the Government can accept, let us try to solve this war by peace talks.” Another camp resident echoed the plea for peace: “We have been suffering here for too long. The U.S. and the UN should come out and force both sides to negotiate. If the international community can’t help us, then we’re in trouble. We are exhausted from all of this fighting.”

At 4:30 pm on the day of Refugees International’s visit, all the food had been distributed to the families in Lalogi. A few people had started to make their way to their huts, but most were waiting until it was dark to take their food into the bush to hide it from the rebels. As we were preparing to leave, the WFP team leader jumped into the car and told us, “We have to hurry. I just heard that rebels are burning houses very near here. Our priority is to leave.” We left, fortunate to have the option to leave. As we drove away with all our armed escorts, thousands of people were standing with their food—waiting for the next attack.

Advocates Michelle Brown and Sayre Nyce are on a three-week assessment mission in Uganda.