Officials from the United States Office For Disaster Assistance (OFDA) met with AVSI representatives in Acholibur IDP camp on Thursday to discuss their partnership and the changing direction of humanitarian aid in Northern Uganda. As IDPs in Acholiland begin to return from main camps towards their villages of origin, the nature of the humanitarian response must adjust accordingly, expressed the team from OFDA.

"Our programs will naturally become more development-oriented as the situation here changes," explained Francesca Oliva, AVSI Water and Sanitation Officer. "Drawing upon AVSI's long history in the area, we can build upon previous interventions to select groups and individuals who will make the most of the extra capital and skills we give."

With OFDA funding in 2008 AVSI will develop 30 new water sources and construct 40 rain-water harvesting tanks in Acholiland. In addition, 120 institutional and community latrines will be constructed, along with hygiene sensitizations provided to the communities. For the first time in their partnership with OFDA, income generating activities will also be implemented by AVSI.

AVSI and OFDA have partnered to provide programs in the water-and-sanitation sector since 2002. More than 30 boreholes and 80 community latrines have been constructed already.

After more than two decades of conflict in Northern Uganda, a tentative peace has now returned to the area. Long-term stability hinges on the peace talks between the LRA and the Government of Uganda currently taking place in Juba, South Sudan.