United Nations humanitarian chief Jan Egeland appealed to Uganda’s government and Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels on Tuesday not to let a fragile peace process fail and to end civilian suffering caused by 20 years of war.
Both sides signed a new truce this month, raising hopes for an end to the brutal war in northern Uganda that has killed tens of thousands and displaced nearly two million into camps.
”I have seen more suffering in northern Uganda than in most other needy places on earth. We must not fail in bringing an end to [it],” Egeland told reporters in Kampala.
”Never before has there been such a unique opportunity to bring an end to … the carnage in northern Uganda. We must not lose [it],” Egeland said.
Despite the temporary peace in the north, aid agencies say conditions in refugee camps remain squalid, with barely adequate food and poor access to health care and clean water.
Egeland said northern Uganda’s plight was slowly improving.
”We haven’t had such a good period in terms of protection of the civilian population and progress in humanitarian work as these last five months,” he said, adding that he hoped 100 000 refugees would return home by the end of 2007.
Egeland met with LRA leader Joseph Kony near his forest hideout on the Sudan/Democratic Republic of Congo border on Sunday but failed to secure the release of non-combatants and the sick and wounded.
The LRA became notorious during their insurgency for massacring civilians, mutilating survivors and abducting thousands of children as fighters, porters and sex slaves.
”I am regretting that they did not agree to releasing abducted children or other civilians they have taken,” he said.
But he added that they had released one wounded LRA fighter for treatment in hospital in Juba, south Sudan’s capital.
Egeland flew to Kampala on Monday for discussions with President Yoweri Museveni.
”We discussed bringing the peace process to a speedy and successful end, avoiding that it drags out. On most issues we agree,” Egeland said.
Egeland pledged continued support from the UN and other donors for the peace process, including funding for the mediators, logistical support such as helicopters for truce monitors, and food to two LRA assembly areas agreed in the truce.
Countries including The Netherlands, Norway, Britain, Germany and Canada had committed cash to the talks. A charity has been commissioned to provide food and drill bore holes in the assembly areas.
”The whole point is to make it as attractive as possible to make peace, disarm and reintegrate into Uganda,” Egeland said.
Independent ceasefire monitors last month said that both sides were guilty of violating an August truce.
The LRA leaders have said they will not make peace until the International Criminal Court drops charges against them.
In 2003, Egeland called northern Uganda the world’s worst neglected emergency. ”It is not neglected anymore,” he said on Tuesday. — Reuters