- We want to support the fragile peace process in northern Uganda, and believe that this is a chance for peace that we cannot afford to miss, says State Secretary Raymond Johansen.

Norway has long advocated finding a solution to the conflict by peaceful means. Jan Egeland, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, has described the conflict as one of the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophes. Norway was among the first countries to decide to support the peace negotiations through the fund recently established by OCHA. Norway’s total contribution now stands at NOK 6.6 million. Various other countries have also contributed to the fund.

- The Norwegian Government would like to see a political solution to the conflict, so that the hard-hit civilian population in the region does not suffer any further. It is too early to predict the outcome of this process, but we hope that it will result in a lasting peace agreement that brings to an end one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.”

The conflict, which has remained unresolved for twenty years, has forced more than 1.7 million people to live in dreadful conditions in refugee camps. State Secretary Anne Stenhammer is travelling to Uganda next week, and will visit several of the camps.

- On behalf of the Norwegian Government, she will encourage the Ugandan authorities to continue negotiations with the LRA, and will express Norway’s continued concern for the humanitarian situation, concludes Mr Johansen.