AFRICA/UGANDA - “Christmas finds children in northern Uganda in the same situation as the Holy Infant Jesus who had to flee into Egypt” a Catholic missionary says

Gulu (Fides Service)-“Christmas finds children in northern Uganda in about the same situation as the Holy Infant Jesus who had to flee into Egypt” says a missionary in the north of Uganda where majority of the population is displaced and lives in camps because of violence on the part of the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels.
“Christmas is traditionally a family celebration but for these people this is impossible. The huts are very small and the children sleep elsewhere in sleeping centres. It is said that they are sent to these centres to avoid being kidnapped by the guerrillas. But this is only partly true. The main reason is that conditions in these camps for internally displaced persons are disastrous” the missionary said. “Only a few days ago in one of the camps 400 huts were destroyed when an accidental fire broke out. People live on top of each other in precarious sanitary conditions”.
“So not many children spend Christmas which is above all a feast for them with their parents” the missionary said. “Nevertheless the Christian community will celebrate the coming of Christ. I am very grateful to the catechists and lay people who foster reconciliation among the camp dwellers and help them reacquire their dignity and maintain it”.
“In my parish there are 5 camps of internally displaced persons. I will celebrate midnight mass in one of the camps and the day mass in another” the missionary said. “We thank God that the community is strong in faith. Abundant seed was sown but the harvest is abundant too. On one Sunday alone I baptised 63 babies in one camp and 45 in another, not counting 126 high-school age children baptised in the same week”.
“The present which children in northern Uganda hope for is that the international community will assume its responsibility in their regard. It is not simply a question of providing humanitarian aid. These people must be put in the condition to live in peace and security and be able to offer their children a better future. The scandal of refugee camps must stop” the religious said.
For almost 20 years the life of the people in northern Uganda has been completely disrupted by LRA guerrilla warfare. At lease one million men women and children live in camps for internally displaced persons and over 35,000 children have been kidnapped and transformed into soldiers. What is more the rebels are a small number compared to the vast area they terrorise. Is there no way of stopping this tragedy? We pray the Infant Jesus will bring us the gift of peace” the missionary concluded. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 23/12/2005 righe 37 parole 492)