This past week we had the opportunity to travel with the Humanitarian Couple in our mission(the Hannans), their daughter Ashley who is visiting them, and another Senior Couple(the Moores who serve in northern Uganda). We were joined and led by Simbwa(a wonderful African member of the Church who helps the Humanitarian Couple) and the Minister of Disaster, Relief, and Refugees...the Honorable Musa Ecweru.
We all headed north of Kampala for about 8-9 hours and arrived in an area called Adjumani where the refugees from South Sudan have been offered protection and a place to live. The area is dotted with various refugee camps and temporary housing provided. The refugees have begun to build more permanent housing and are looking forward to planting seeds and beginning anew. Conflict is not new to them...it has gone on for years between tribes as well as between Sudan and South Sudan.
Consequently, over 12,000 of the refugees have been living there. But when conflict intensified in December, over 68,000 streamed across the border into Uganda.
Our purpose was to deliver supplies donated by the Church, which consisted of 10,000 mosquito nets, 16,000 blankets, and 8000 cooking pots. Previously thousands of dollars had been donated by the Church to Catholic Charities to aid in feeding the refugees. Many other NGOs participate in helping and while we were there 2 large semi trucks were unloading food at one of the camps.
With over 80,000 Sudanese refugees in the Adjumani Refugee Camps and more coming in every day, the camps are bulging at the seams. There was a show of joy as we entered the three camps. These people are misplaced and franticly striving to maintain some kind of human existence. The pictures I have taken really do not need a lot of explanation as the pictures tell the story. War equalizes the rich with the poor and it is difficult to tell who is who in these pictures as everyone is hurting.
The road between Kampala and Gulu in northern Uganda. It is hardly wide enough for 2
vehicles to pass and is full of potholes. There is a lot of truck traffic on the road as it is the road to South Sudan.
Here we are arriving just south of the South Sudan-Uganda border. Not as green and lush as the rest of Uganda. This probably resembles more of what South Sudan would look like.
We visited 3 camps on Friday. This was our arrival at the first camp. The residents of the camp lined both sides of the dirt road and were singing, clapping, and dancing to welcome us.
They gave us a royal welcome...with big smiles on their faces.
Cute Sudanese boy
A stately Sudanese gentleman
A blind man -- many in the camps are the most vulnerable...the elderly, the blind, the lame, the children, the new mothers, babies, etc....
The Sudanese are quiet tall and we were told that the women probably only have 1 dress, the one they are wearing that they wash at night so they can wear it again.
The Honorable Minister Musa Ecweru assisting one of the elderly women.
Sis. Moore passing out a mosquito net.
Honorable Ecweru and Elder Hannan passing out a cooking pot, mosquito net and blanket to an elderly man.
Ashley Hannan helping pass out supplies.
Honorable Ecweru really cares about these people.
When asked how Uganda can continue to care for so many refugees on so many of its borders, the Minister replied, "Refugees don't come by invitation. Uganda has no choice."
Again, Hon. Musa and Elder Hannan. Hon. Musa told us..."my business is to give them hope."
A typical Sudanese woman.
Sis. Hannan handing over supplies. The trucks carrying the supplies had gone ahead of us and so by the time we arrived the camp workers had the bundles open and nets, blankets, and pots arranged in stacks so we could hand them out.
Cute kids!
Another elderly gentleman.
Her face tells the story...life has been hard.
Appreciative smiles
A view of the camp. The water point is fenced in to keep any animals away and the jerry cans are lined up to be filled.
Elder Moore joining in the celebration.
This face tells its own story.
At each camp the people would line the dirt road to welcome us and then we would all enter an open pavilion where the Honorable Minister Ecweru would talk with them. They sat on the ground and we were given plastic chairs to sit in. He would tell them..."I have come to assure you no one will harm you, you are safe here." Then he would have us introduce ourselves and he would tell them what we had brought to help make their lives easier. At that point we would begin to pass out the supplies, and give them hugs and smiles and words of encouragement.
There are many single mothers in the camp with young children. Some of them have lost their husbands and others have husbands in South Sudan who are trying to preserve their property or who are engaged in the fighting.
One of the directors of the camp said that 800 of them arrived in one single truck trailer. Upon arrival they are taken to a reception center where they are registered, temporarily housed, fed, and given medical help if needed. They are then assigned a place to live in one of the camps or a new camp is created. In the settlement camps they are given land, food, and core relief items.
Uganda is providing school for the children so they can continue their education.
As mentioned, they are probably wearing the only dress they have as they escaped with only the clothes they were wearing. The Minister stated that they are in need of "second-hand" dresses for the women in the camp."
The girl in the yellow was standing behind Susan and began to stroke Susan's hair. They are intrigued by the texture and color of our hair.
Could not resist this picture, she looked so pretty.
Just tried to capture the expressions on their face.
Young girl...
Mother...
Young mother...
Loved this unintended pose...
What a beautiful young girl!
Many of the elderly with their walking sticks.
Because of the uncertainties of the on-going peace talks, refugees continue to flow daily across the border. During the month of March there were 300-400 arriving daily. The first few weeks of April there were 120-150 arriving daily.
This young mother wanted a picture taken of her holding her baby.
He probably would have preferred a soccer ball rather than a cooking pot!
Minister Ecweru told them..."Your suffering is shared by the world and it is temporary. One day you will be home as free people."
This woman was so elderly and frail.
Many hugs, and smiles, and hand shakes to thank us for the supplies.
A view of the camp receiving bags of beans, rice, and flour from the United Nations trucks.
Many NGOs are involved in the relief efforts.
Another royal welcome...
What a welcome!!!
More supplies being handed out...
The man in the center only had one leg.
More kids...
Accidently hit a tree stump that we could not see. Bent the rim and the tire instantly went flat. But our spare was in good shape and we had lots of help getting it changed. You can see that the road between the camps was not in good shape. We crossed some dry river beds and some pretty rough terrain. Glad we have 4 wheel drive.
Finally on our way back to Kampala on Saturday morning.
As we neared the Nile River we saw this large baboon sitting by the side of the road.
Crossing the Nile River on our way home.
A trip full of memories we will never forget!
