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Rebels Reject Relief Food

New Vision (Kampala)
NEWS
December 9, 2004
Posted to the web December 9, 2004

By Chris Ochowun
Kampala
THE Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has rejected food from the World Food
Programme (WFP).
The rebels claimed the government had poisoned the food.
The rebels have reportedly resorted to stealing food from internally displaced
persons in camps in Atiak and Palabek sub-counties. Atiak LC3 chairman Willian
Odong advised people not to go to their gardens.
The WFP head of Gulu sub-office, Pedro Amolat, said they had not registered any
case of poisoned food since they began distributing relief food to the 1.5
million displaced persons.
"We don't poison people. Our food is well packed," Amolat said on Tuesday.
He said if they received a formal request, they would supply food to the
rebels.
"If the situation demands, we shall be available to give food to the rebels,"
Amolat said.
Sources at the WFP office in Gulu said they could not deliver the food since
the rebels were not willing to accept it.
Gulu LC5 chairman Lt. Col. Walter Ochora said there were five foreign miliatry
attaches who monitored the safety of the food meant for the rebels.
Security sources said the rebels had left the ceasefire zone.

   

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