04/24/2006

Caught in the Crossfire: The Endangered Children of Northern Uganda

WASHINGTON, April 24 /Christian Newswire/ -- Where else is war being waged by children abducted by rebel insurgents and turned into “kill or be killed” mercenaries? Where else is war being fought for no discernable political end? Where else are children, afraid to sleep in their own beds, becoming “night commuters,” walking miles to cities and protected camps to sleep?

For nearly 20 years, conflict between the government of Uganda and a terrorist organization, the Lord’s Resistance Army, has gripped northern Uganda.. This brutal conflict has displaced more than 1.8 million people, caused skyrocketing HIV and AIDS rates, and is costing more than $100 million per year.

The U.S. State Department has considered the LRA a terrorist organization since December 2001. Because more than 80 percent of the LRA’s ranks are composed of abducted children, its troops are simultaneously hostages and terrorists. This presents a unique and delicate situation for the international community. The leadership of the LRA must be pursued and treated as terrorists, while the abducted soldiers within its ranks must be addressed as hostages and innocent children.

Press Availability on Capitol Hill: “Caught in the Crossfire”

When: Wednesday, April 26, 11:30 a.m. Where: Cannon House Office Building Terrace Who: Representative Chris Smith (R-N.J.); Grace Akallo, Former Abducted Child Soldier for the LRA, World Vision, others to be announced

Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations Hearing on “The Endangered Children of Northern Uganda”

When: Wednesday, April 26, 2:00 p.m. Where: Room 2200 of the Rayburn House Office Building Witnesses include: Mr. Jeffrey Krilla, DAS, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor, US Dept of State; His Excellency Amama Mbabazi, Minister of Defense of Uganda; Ms. Grace Akallo, former abducted child soldier for the LRA, representing World Vision; Dr. Rick Brennan, Director of Health International Rescue Committee; Ms. Michelle Brown, U.N. Advocate, Refugees International.

World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. We serve the world’s poor regardless of a person’s religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit www.worldvision.org/childrenofwar