Military

DATE=12/22/2002

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=W-F-P/UGANDA (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-297699

BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN

DATELINE=GENEVA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The United Nations World Food Program says hundreds-of-thousands of people in northern Uganda are facing a humanitarian crisis. Lisa Schlein in Geneva reports, the W-F-P says deteriorating security conditions and lack of resources are threatening the delivery of food assistance to these people.

TEXT: The World Food Program says people in the Uganda districts of Gulu, Kitgum and Pader continue to be terrorized by the rebel Lord's Resistance Army. They are victims of brutal attacks and kidnappings by the rebel group.

As the situation deteriorates, W-F-P says, growing numbers of people are fleeing into camps in search of security and food assistance.

At present, the agency says, it is feeding nearly 800-thousand people. W-F-P spokeswoman Christiane Berthiaume says this is an increase of nearly 300-thousand over last month's beneficiaries.

/// BERTHIAUME ACT ///

Those people depend only on our food aid to survive, because it is very dangerous for them to get out of the camps. Some people have told us there are at least 20 persons a day that are abducted by the rebels, while they are trying to get out of the camp to find some food and some firewood. And, these people are abducted, and forced to join the battle in the ranks of the rebels. So, the situation is very serious.

/// END ACT ///

Ms. Berthiaume says, access to these people is very difficult. She says W-F-P is the only humanitarian agency that can reach them, and this has to be done under military escort.

The Lord's Resistance Army has been trying to overthrow the Ugandan government for more than a decade. The group is accused of kidnapping thousands of children and using them as soldiers and sex slaves.

Ms. Berthiaume says, most of those in the camps are too frightened to cultivate their land. As a consequence, she says, most have lost the August and September harvests, and failed to plant next year's crop in October. On top of that, she says, W-F-P does not have enough money to assist all those in need.

/// BERTHIAUME 2nd ACT ///

Because of lack of resources, we had to cut 30 percent of the food ration in October of these people. And, if we do not have new contributions, we will have to cut them by 40 percent in January. When you think about the situation and the conditions of those people, this is very dramatic.

/// END ACT ///

The World Food Program says it needs 24-million dollars to buy 44-thousand tons of food. It says this will keep hundreds-of-thousands of people in northern Uganda alive, at least until June. (Signed)

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