HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN NORTHERN UGANDA

Early day motion 824, tabled 15 March 2004 by Angus Robertson (Scottish National Party). Signed by 44 members.

That this House deplores the 21st February attacks by the Lord's Resistance Army in Barlonyo internally displaced person's camp, where over 240 defenceless men, women and children were massacred; notes that this was the second attack on a refugee camp in three weeks; sends its condolences to the families of the victims; congratulates the Member of Parliament for Mwenge South, Dora Byamukama, for tabling a motion and making a compelling humanitarian and moral case which persuaded her parliamentary colleagues unanimously to vote to declare northern Uganda a disaster area; supports the action by the EU Head of Delegation in Uganda. Ambassador Mr Sigurd Illing, who led the donor community in endorsing Ms Byamukama's motion and calling on the Ugandan People's Defence Forces to provide adequate security to the vulnerable people in the refugee camps; regrets the decision by the Ugandan authorities to reject the parliamentary motion; believes that it is only by declaring the war-ravaged region a disaster area that the international community can effectively respond with adequate humanitarian aid, which is desperately needed; and therefore calls on Her Majesty's Government to do all in its power to persuade the Ugandan Government to respect the will of its parliament, co-operate with the donor community, and declare northern Uganda a disaster area as a matter or urgency.

Signatures by party: Labour 24, Liberal Democrat 9, Plaid Cymru 3, UUP 3, Labour/Co-operative 2, Scottish National Party 2, Conservative 1.