The World Food Programme (WFP) appealed this week to the international community for appealed for $64.6 million for people displaced by war and flooding in northern and eastern Uganda. "We are struggling to meet both existing and new, growing needs in Uganda," said WFP Country Director Tesema Negash. "We particularly need cash now so that we can buy food locally and move it swiftly to those who need it most. Our teams are on the ground distributing food to flood victims, but access is difficult and without new funds, everything is in jeopardy." This money is especially critical to assist an estimated 300,000 people affected by recent devastating flooding. Many of these were people who has just began returning home after being displaced for years by the war.

300,000 people have been affected by Uganda’s heaviest rains in over 35 years, which have caused severe flooding in northern and eastern Uganda. People already displaced by insecurity in northern Uganda make up over 100,000 of those affected. The floods have destroyed bridges and roads, isolated communities, ruined crops and disrupted water and sanitation facilities. The incidence of malaria, diarrhoeal diseases and acute respiratory infections has already increased, reportedly by as much as 30 per cent. UN agencies in Uganda have launched appeals worth over $100 million to assist the flood victims. Read more at Reuters AlertNet.

Civilians in the Lango sub-region of northern Uganda have expressed fears that uncertain progress at the Juba peace talks and poor provision of health and education services in areas of return will slow recovery efforts. Local official Benson Dila said, "The population is enthusiastic to get settled in their villages as per the government plan but the unclear peace talks are delaying the process.” Officials began closing down IDP camps in Lango last week, allowing people to take advantage of improved security to return to their homes. Poor roads, HIV infections and lack of agricultural tools also remain key challenges to recovery in the region. Read more at The Monitor.

Residents of an internal displacement camp in northern Uganda sang and ululated at a ceremony to mark the formal closure of the settlement and the return of most of the 18,000 inhabitants to their villages. "I declare the camp closed, for God and my country," declared Musa Ecweru, the minister of state in change of disaster preparedness, as he formally announced the shutting-down this week of the Atwal Railway Camp in the new district of Oyam. The number in the displacement camps of northern Uganda has decreased from 1.8 million in 2005 to an estimated 916,000 in June 2007. 381,000 others have moved to new transit camps closer to their villages. While this shows huge process, many are still hesitant to get comfortable because a final peace agreement remains elusive. Moreover, returnees face significant challenges. "People are disempowered. There are no water and sanitation services in the villages. We shall need to do our outmost to empower these people trying to regain their dignity," said Catherine Amal, chief administrative officer of Oyam district. Read more at IRIN News.

The first IDPs camps will be closed today in the northern Lango region, where most IDPs have returned home. This is the result of the improved security situation, ongoing peace talks between the Ugandan government and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and generally improved freedom of movement. The camps will not become entirely uninhabited, as the UN Refugee Agency plans to transform the sites into viable communities. Read more at Reuters.

Over 3,000 bombs, guns and unexploded ordinances still remain buried in different parts of northern Uganda, Vincent Otti, the deputy commander of the LRA has claimed. Otti said the guns can only be removed by the LRA when they return to Uganda because they know their location. The army’s 4th Division spokesman Lt. Chris Magezi said the army has recovered up to 300 bombs of different types from northern Uganda. Read more at The Monitor.

The New Vision reports today that sex has become a nightmare for women in northern Uganda's internally displaced camps. The article reads: "They have to choose between giving their husbands pleasure and protecting children from witnessing adult exploits. In almost all the IDP camps, congestion and lack of privacy is a common phenomenon, which also influences the lifestyle of the people. It is common to find a family of 10 people living in a tiny hut." These realities, combined with the prevalence of alcoholism by many males, have led to high levels of domestic abuse. "In a survey of 65 women in six camps, The New Vision found that 23% of them had divorced or separated from their husbands because of such tortuous sexual relationships. Two thirds of them confessed to denying their husbands sex due to congestion."

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has more than doubled its funding for the emergency relief and rehabilitation programme in northern Uganda. The agency will this year spend $12.3m up from $5.1m which it spent last year on the activities. The money will service nine projects expected to benefit over 254,000 in Acholi, Lango, Teso and Karamoja sub-regions. Read more at The New Vision.

Sanitary conditions in the internally displaced persons’ camps in the north are deteriorating following the heavy rains which washed away latrines. Cases of malaria have increased three-fold and officials fear possible outbreaks of dysentery and cholera. Read more at The New Vision.