evaluation of general food distribution in northern uganda: gulu ...

5 PROJECT RELEVANCE & APPROPRIATENESSAs a result of the conflict in the North, food assistance has been given to Uganda since 1996.Although the WFP protracted relief and recovery operation (PRRO) assumed that IDPswould return home in large numbers in 2001, IDPs continued to stay in camps for securityreasons as the conflict escalated. Uganda was facing the worst humanitarian crisis in years.During the peak of the crisis nearly 2 million IDPs were confined in 188 camps in the Northand East and as outlined in Chapter 3, their situation continued to deteriorate. Surveysdocumented alarming malnutrition rates (in some cases 18 -20%) and the need for reliablehumanitarian support was palpable.Against this backdrop and with the cl ear objective of safeguarding rights, protecting lives andcontributing to house hold food security, the NRC’s project design is found timely and mostrelevant: to distribute food aid based on needs to a targeted population including the mostvulnerable in Gulu, Amuru and Kitgum.5.1 Being There at the Right TimeAs an implementing partner for WFP since 1997, NRC is one of the oldest humanitarianactors on the ground in Northern Uganda – with a presence throughout the most challengingtimes of the conflict.In order to respond appropriately and maintain efficient communication on the ground, NRC– unlike most other humanitarian organisations - established its Country Office in Gulu andhas over the years geared up its resource base to over 500 staff including 200 volunteers tofacilitate timely response of food aid and several other activities. As one appreciative districtofficial in Kitgum noted: “they brought their head quarters to the heart of the conflict, at a timewhen not many others were around”. This strategic move to the ‘field’ allowed NRC toshorten the distance to decision-making and cutting back layers of management andbureaucracy, which may otherwise hamper quick and efficient emergency response.Logistical arrangements for the food distribu tion through the peak of the crisis were quitechallenging. NRC has however accommodated itself by risking lives and being flexible whenthe security situation was not conducive and also by travelling to distribution points witharmed escorts.Today NRC’s interventions in food distribution follow ‘a most likely scenario’ – that “securityremains relatively stable. The uncertainty of the outcome of the peace talks, as well as theinfrastructural and social challenges of protracted displacement lead to a le ngthy process ofreturn and reintegration” 39 This means that NRC – in line with its policy - continues tocontribute to household food security – not only in camps but also to transit sites, wheresome people have resettled.5.2 Appropriateness of Food Aid in Protracted ConflictsEmergency food assistance composes a food basket, which is supposed to help keepingpeople alive in an emergency period. The composition of food items is designed to maintaina minimum nutritional and dietary standard (Section 7.1 provides details). The fact that theconflict in Northern Uganda has been protracted has meant that thousands of women, menand children, old and young, have nourished themselves with a daily emergency ration forlonger than what was anticipated. In a protracted situation, like Uganda, one may argue thatemergency food assistance for ten years is a contradiction in itself.39From NRC Project Proposal budget year 2008/0917