The Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) is working tirelessly to help more than a thousand refugees who have fled neighbouring Kenya following post-election violence.
The URCS has taken a lead role in the response at the request of the Ugandan government, which recently relocated the Kenyan refugees to Mulanda camp in the Tororo district to ensure their safety and provide a better quality of life for them.
During his visit to the site, Acting Secretary General Mr Michael Nataka said that URCS will continue to work with other humanitarian agencies such as the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to ensure that the refugees get basic necessities for safe livelihood while in the camp.
URCS has been trying to ease the plight of Kenyan refugees left homeless by the post-election crisis since late December 2007, and initially managed the transit camps in Busia and Malaba before the move to a large central camp in Tororo.
Thousands of displaced people have entered Uganda after losing their homes and livelihoods in the violence, which followed claims of election malpractice. It is expected that more will follow if the situation in Kenya does not stabilize soon.
“We have had multiple challenges since we took up this operation,” said UCRS programme officer Andrew Omale. “Most of these challenges stem from meeting the needs of vulnerable groups such as the elderly, people with disabilities and unaccompanied minors.”
The displaced people include vulnerable individuals such as 16-year-old Dome from Malaba town, an unaccompanied minor who has multiple disabilities and communication difficulties. Dome had been stigmatized by her community - even by her own relatives and friends - but is now being helped by Red Cross volunteers and is full of hope for the future.
Helen Wambui Karanja, a mother of five whose family home burned to the ground during the post-election riots, was also full of praise for the help she has received from the Red Cross.
“I do not know how I can ever repay all the help I have received from the Red Cross branch in Busia district,” she said, adding that the events in Kenya had destroyed her business stock and jeopardized her livelihood. “I had acquired a loan from a finance institution to boost my business back home, but I do not know I am going to pay it back now that I am not working. Worst of all, all my stock was burned up.
“I am so frustrated because my children were doing very well at school, and now they cannot continue with their studies,” she adds.
As well as providing support and advice to the refugees, URCS has been carrying out sanitation and hygiene work in the camp. This has helped the majority of refugees to stay free of disease, despite the conditions.
The local Red Cross has also distributed relief items to the refugees with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and with contributions from the Kenyan community in Uganda.
Refugee families have been given a kit comprising a tarpaulin, two jerry cans, two saucepans, two mosquito nets, three blankets, three bars of soap, two mattresses, a charcoal stove, five cups and five plates.
At present, some 12,000 Kenyan refugees are reported to be in Uganda - 1,407 of them in the camp in Mulanda. URCS is now increasing the staff and resources needed to ensure the efficient management of the camp for the foreseeable future.
On 8 January, the International Federation released 200,000 Swiss francs from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Uganda Red Cross Society in delivering immediate assistance to 3,000 beneficiaries.
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During his visit to the site, Acting Secretary General Mr Michael Nataka said that URCS will continue to work with other humanitarian agencies such as the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to ensure that the refugees get basic necessities for safe livelihood while in the camp. (p17257)
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At present, some 12,000 Kenyan refugees are reported to be in Uganda - 1,407 of them in the camp in Mulanda. (p17255)
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Children enjoying a meal at the camp. They represent 50 per cent of the refugees population. (p17256)
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