Long District UNDCP Aid and Norwegian Church Aid Involved in Opium Eradication

Long District UNDCP Aid and Norwegian Church Aid Involved in Opium Eradication
In fact, there was a greatly increased mortality after this project and there is still very little economy. But the most important question is why NCA had such a vested interest in running an operation, that they were not able to run successfully and which caused great suffering to the people? Since when is it the Church's job to eliminate opium?

UNDCP Lao PDR Press Release
Feb 13, 2003

VIENTANE, 13 February (UNDCP Field office, Lao PDR) - The United Nations Drug Control Programme will provide US$ 1,820,500 for a 3-year project to eliminate opium cultivation and reduce opium addiction in Long District, in Louang Namtha Province. In addition, the Lao Government will contribute the equivalent to US$ 150,000 in kind, and the benefiting communities will provide in kind inputs equivalent to US$ 60,000. The project document was signed on Wednesday, February 13, at the Presidential Palace by His Excellency Mr. Soubanh Srithirath, Minister to the Presidential office, Dr. Halvor J. Kolshus, UNDCP Representative in Lao PDR and Mr. Georg Tumyr, regional Representative of Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), who will execute the project.

A national strategy - A Balanced Approach to Opium Elimination in the Lao PDR - was prepared by the Lao National Commission for Drug Control and Supervision and UNDCP in October 1999 and was subsequently endorsed by the Government.

The Long Alternative Development Project is an important component of the national programme. It represents the 3rd phase of an established project that has demonstrated that the alternative development approach can produce substantial results supply and demand reduction. The main reason behind the 3rd phase continuation is that the successes achieved during the 2nd phase need to be extended to the whole district. Another 37 villages will be incorporated in the project in addition to the 19 villages already covered by phase 2. These 37 new target villages are responsible for approximately 85 percent of the total area of opium poppy cultivation in Long district.

Food shortages and rice deficiencies are common problems for the target population for several months of the year. Current livelihood strategies for coping with the insufficient rice production include opium cultivation and hiring out for labour, often paid with opium. The district is among the poorest in the country, with a very high rate of opium addiction.

The project is designed to eliminate opium cultivation and reduce addiction and poverty through a participatory village-based approach. It aims to create ownership of the development initiatives and processes among the villagers, both men and women. Human resource development both in local government and among villagers is emphasized.

Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) will execute the project. NCA has long experience in poverty and drug alleviation in Bokeo and Luang Namtha provinces.

Contributions to UNDCP from the Government of Norway have made it possible for UNDCP to extend this grant to Lao PDR.If you need any further information, please contact:

UNDCP, Phone Kheng Road, P.O. Box 345, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
Tel: +856.21.413204 Fax: +856.21.413203 Email: undcplao@undp.org

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	Document You may copy and save this document for later reading. Please remember to do a site search for other related documents which may not be shown here. Long District UNDCP Aid and Norwegian Church Aid Involved in Opium Eradication In fact, there was a greatly increased mortality after this project and there is still very little economy. But the most important question is why NCA had such a vested interest in running an operation, that they were not able to run successfully and which caused great suffering to the people? Since when is it the Church's job to eliminate opium? UNDCP Lao PDR Press Release Feb 13, 2003 VIENTANE, 13 February (UNDCP Field office, Lao PDR) - The United Nations Drug Control Programme will provide US$ 1,820,500 for a 3-year project to eliminate opium cultivation and reduce opium addiction in Long District, in Louang Namtha Province. In addition, the Lao Government will contribute the equivalent to US$ 150,000 in kind, and the benefiting communities will provide in kind inputs equivalent to US$ 60,000. The project document was signed on Wednesday, February 13, at the Presidential Palace by His Excellency Mr. Soubanh Srithirath, Minister to the Presidential office, Dr. Halvor J. Kolshus, UNDCP Representative in Lao PDR and Mr. Georg Tumyr, regional Representative of Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), who will execute the project. A national strategy - A Balanced Approach to Opium Elimination in the Lao PDR - was prepared by the Lao National Commission for Drug Control and Supervision and UNDCP in October 1999 and was subsequently endorsed by the Government. The Long Alternative Development Project is an important component of the national programme. It represents the 3rd phase of an established project that has demonstrated that the alternative development approach can produce substantial results supply and demand reduction. The main reason behind the 3rd phase continuation is that the successes achieved during the 2nd phase need to be extended to the whole district. Another 37 villages will be incorporated in the project in addition to the 19 villages already covered by phase 2. These 37 new target villages are responsible for approximately 85 percent of the total area of opium poppy cultivation in Long district. Food shortages and rice deficiencies are common problems for the target population for several months of the year. Current livelihood strategies for coping with the insufficient rice production include opium cultivation and hiring out for labour, often paid with opium. The district is among the poorest in the country, with a very high rate of opium addiction. The project is designed to eliminate opium cultivation and reduce addiction and poverty through a participatory village-based approach. It aims to create ownership of the development initiatives and processes among the villagers, both men and women. Human resource development both in local government and among villagers is emphasized. Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) will execute the project. NCA has long experience in poverty and drug alleviation in Bokeo and Luang Namtha provinces. Contributions to UNDCP from the Government of Norway have made it possible for UNDCP to extend this grant to Lao PDR.If you need any further information, please contact: UNDCP, Phone Kheng Road, P.O. Box 345, Vientiane, Lao PDR. Tel: +856.21.413204 Fax: +856.21.413203 Email: undcplao@undp.org Copyright 1991 The Akha Heritage Foundation