Accelerated Aid For Internally Displaced Ugandans

UNICEF PUSHES AHEAD WITH ACCELERATED AID FOR INTERNALLY DISPLACED UGANDANS

New York, Aug 11 2004 11:00AM

With the number of internally displaced persons (IDP) in northern and eastern Uganda growing, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has welcomed a new Italian contribution to its expanded and accelerated response campaign to meet the needs of more than 1.6 million people, 80 per cent of whom are children and women.

“Every day in northern Uganda, children wake up to the debilitating impact of displacement and poverty, not knowing if that day will bring with it violence and abuse that can scar or even end their lives,” UNICEF’s Representative in Uganda, Martin Mogwanja, said of those displaced by the conflict with the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).

“A commitment to provide the basic needs of children by the international community, such as the one being demonstrated by Italy, is required now more than ever,” he added.

The Italian Government’s nearly $625,000 contribution toward the UN Consolidated Interagency Emergency Appeal for 2004 will be used for immunization and hygiene education, tracing and resettling unaccompanied children, returning abducted children to their home communities, and procuring additional emergency shelter and household items.

2004-08-11 00:00:00.000

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