In Brief: Local aid key to northern Uganda recoverySOURCE: IRIN
Local assistance in northern Uganda played a crucial part in
post-conflict recovery in Pader and Katakwi districts but determining
the exact impact requires more work, according to research findings.
The two districts have, over the years, suffered insurgency and
consequent population displacement, cattle rustling, clashes over land,
floods and hunger. During this time, local people offered aid convoy
escorts, disarmament support and participated in peace negotiations and
voluntary informal security organizations. They also provided casual
labour, food and leased farm land around displaced persons' camps.
The findings, in the Domestic Response in Uganda study compiled
by Development Research and Training, a Ugandan research group,and the
Global Humanitarian Assistance programme, show that local response is
highly valued. "If I receive small help from my neighbour and large help
from an outside organization, I value the help from my neighbour more
as I know he has less to give," said a respondent in Katakwi.
The report called for an aid system that recognizes the strengths
of all humanitarian actors "so that a satisfactory balance can be
achieved between asking too much of domestic responders and asking too
little".
URL Address: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/ACIO-8B2E67?OpenDocument
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