12/15/2004

Three of this father's children have been abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). Now, his children have returned, but he is afraid that they may be abducted again. Furthermore, they face many difficulties in trying to reintegrate into society.

There is clearly not enough support for returnees and their families in the camps. Many report that some children exhibit violent behavior and have difficulty reintegrating, but these children and their families have nowhere to seek assistance. Follow up assistance to former LRA fighters is almost non-existent. NGOs find that it is too insecure for them to regularly travel to camps to monitor the reintegration of returnees. Also NGOs do not have adequate resources and staff to improve their follow-up assistance. There are Community Volunteer Counselors in each camp to provide support to the returnees, but they are not trained counselors and serve more as resource people. They cannot do more than act as a listening ear to parents, many of whom are unable to cope with the needs of their severely traumatized children and therefore suggest that they go back to the reception center.

With the government army succeeding at weakening the LRA, an increasing number of formerly abducted children and adults are being rescued or escaping and seeking amnesty. Yet, due to a lack of support systems, many of these former soldiers feel they have no choice but to join government forces and return to the fighting. More resources must be given for education, skills training and support groups like the Concerned Parents Association to help these children and adults become productive members in their society.