12/08/2004

These children in Patongo Camp in Northern Uganda have access to very little water. In the past year, the United Nations and non-governmental organizations have strengthened their response to the crisis in Uganda, but their actions have not translated into an appreciable improvement in the conditions for displaced people. Access to water and sanitation is one of the biggest gaps that Refugees International identified. In some camps, people have access to only two liters of water per day, while 15 liters a day is considered acceptable.

Health services in most of the camps are substandard, and there are shortages of qualified health personnel. There have been confirmed cholera outbreaks in seven camps in the north. Malaria is widespread, but mosquito nets are only provided to pregnant women.

Due to insecurity and lack of staff, most humanitarian interventions tend to be infrequent and short-lived. According to a UN official, "The camps are substandard and the level of humanitarian assistance, except for food, is disgraceful."