A displacement camp or 'protected village' at the height of the conflict in northern Uganda. Most of these displaced families have returned to their villages, but the UN estimates that about 300,000 people remain in camps like these.The UN reports that even today, 6 years after the LRA were 'kicked out' of Uganda, there are still over 30,000 internally displaced people living in camps. The statement comes as a stark contrast to the claims by the Ugandan government that all IDPs have now returned home and there are no more displacement camps. 

More than 1.8 million people lived in over 250 camps throughout the conflict between the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan governmentwhich lasted for over 20 years and ended in 2006. 

Those who are still living in the displacement camps today are getting minimum government support. A plan for recovery ( peace, recovery and development plan (PRDP)), launched in 2007, was executed by the UNHCR. As the UNHCR is now withdrawing from northern Uganda there are growing fears that the remaining displaced will be neglected.  The Ugandan government, however, claims it will extend the PRDP programme for another 3 years.

IRT's work in the region is therefore crucial. We started work in the region 20 years ago when the majority of the population was displaced and refugees from Sudan flooded the country. Now that most Sudanse refugees have returned to their country and the IDPs to their villages, IRT is still active in the region. Many of the people we work with were displaced for such a long time, that rebuilding their lives is going to take many years. With a focus on long term projects and reviving the agricultural economy we hope that our beneficiaries will one day no longer live in poverty and can live independently of aid.

Read 'Northern Uganda's displaced people are left to fend for themselves' in the Guardian.