'NIGHT COMMUTER' SITUATION DETERIORATES IN WAR-TORN NORTHERN UGANDA

June 17, 2004 – (TearFund) Record numbers of children in the Gulu district of Northern Uganda are fleeing their homes each night in fear of abduction and death as the country's 18-year conflict worsens, reports Noah's Ark, a Tearfund partner providing shelter and care for the children.

Every night more than 25,000 children leave their villages or camps throughout the district and walk to Gulu town to escape being killed or abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army, which is waging war against the Ugandan government. These 'night commuters' head for shelters such as Noah's Ark, as well as the grounds of the town's hospital and schools.

Peter Buitendijk, Field Director for Noah's Ark, one of Gulu's shelters for night commuters, says, "When Noah's Ark started last year there were about 300 children a night visiting the shelter. In January it rose to 2,500. In the last few weeks it's reached more than 6,000 children a night." A further 20,000 night commuters sleep in the neighbouring town of Kitgum each night.

The largest influx at Noah's Ark came in late May when an extra 1,200 night commuters were waiting at the gates as night fell. "It was mostly mothers with their babies which is rare in Gulu as the LRA mostly target children of school age. It was a clear indication that the situation had deteriorated outside of town," says Peter Buitendijk.

"Some of the mothers were telling us that their homes had been burned. Some hadn't eaten for days. They were simply too afraid to stay outside the town," adds Peter Buitendijk.

A recent spate of attacks on camps for displaced people in Gulu district is believed to have triggered the increase in night commuters seeking refuge in the town. Attacks on the Pagak (24km from Gulu town) and Lukodi camps (17 km from Gulu town) within a week of each other left more than 80 people dead and at least 200 huts burned.

Donald Mavunduse, Uganda Desk Officer for aid agency Tearfund, who has just returned from a visit to the region, says, "As night falls in Gulu and Kitgum, schools, hospitals, shop verandas and even bus parks become home to hoards of people. When the sun rises they begin the long journey home, often barefoot and on an empty stomach."

"The journey brings many risks, particularly for women and girls, as they face the prospect of sexual abuse and exploitation," he adds. "This is happening night after night. For some children this is all they've known. No child should have to live like this," adds Donald Mavunduse.

Noah's Ark and Tearfund fear that this number of night commuters will continue to rise unless significant steps are taken to bring about a peaceful end to this long running conflict. Peter Buitendijk of Noah's Ark also fears a disease outbreak amongst the night commuters in Gulu. "The rainy season is underway and with so many children living in cramped conditions we fear that heavy rains could trigger the spread of diseases such as cholera."

As Uganda's second largest contributor of bi-lateral aid, the British Government is being urged by Tearfund to extend its influence to bring about a peaceful and negotiated settlement to this conflict.

Tearfund is also urging the Ugandan Government to prioritise efforts to protect those who have been displaced by the fighting and to ensure safe passage to humanitarian agencies as they seek to assist the people of Northern Uganda.

Almost two decades of war have wreaked havoc on people's lives in towns and villages across Northern Uganda. Brutal killings, burning homes, widespread looting and abducting children to be forced into the LRA's ranks to be soldiers, porters or sex slaves, are common features of this conflict.

The fighting has displaced nine in 10 people in Northern Uganda and an estimated 28,500 children have been abducted by the LRA since the conflict began, 12,000 of whom have been abducted since June 2002, when the conflict significantly deteriorated.

Note to Editors
1. Pictures available: "Running scared: More than 45,000 women and children across Northern Uganda leave their homes each night for the relative safety of the nearest town to flee the Lord's Resistance Army." Please call Abby King at Tearfund on 020 8943 7901 or email abby.king@tearfund.org Pictures by Marcus Perkins/Tearfund.
2. Interviewee available: Donald Mavunduse, Tearfund's Desk Officer for Uganda, has just returned from Northern Uganda. To arrange an interview please call Abby King on 020 8943 7901.
3. For regular prayer updates or to support Tearfund's work in Northern Uganda please call 0845 355 8355 or visit www.tearfund.org
4. Tearfund is one of the UK's leading relief and development agencies, working in partnership with Christian agencies and churches around the world to tackle the causes and effects of poverty.

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Abby King, Tearfund Media Officer on 020 8943 7901 or 07767 473516
Keith Ewing, Tearfund Media Manager on 020 8943 7779 or 07710 573749

From: http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/1da2efddff26c02985256eb60062f2ac?OpenDocument