Although the LRA and its commander, Joseph Kony, have their origins in Uganda's own history of domestic conflict, it is Sudanese support for the LRA that has given it resources and the sanctuary necessary to terrorize the populations of the Gulu and Kitgum districts in northern Uganda. Sudan provides the LRA with safe-havens deep within its territory and supplies it with military equipment, food, and other materials. After Sudan's support to the LRA increased significantly in 1994, the atrocities suffered by the people in northern Uganda rose exponentially. That suffering continues today. During the first half of 1998, the number of incidents and the geographic spread of LRA depredations increased.
Abductions appear to be down, but children continue to be victimized.
In our embassy's assessment, no areas of Gulu or Kitgum Districts can be considered safe. My colleague from the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, Valerie Newsom-Guarnieri, here today, can answer questions about the 400,000 people living in Internally Displaced Persons camps in the north. I want to emphasize, however, that the situation in the north is of concern to all of us. Our Ambassador, Nancy Powell, visited one of the camps as recently as early July, and Secretary Albright visited Gulu during her December 1997 trip to Africa. We were all deeply moved by the experience of meeting the child victims of LRA atrocities.