Trinkwasser und Hygiene für Geflüchtete aus dem Südsudan
Jjumba Martin
Working together for better living conditions

Humanitarian aid in Uganda's largest refugee camps

Humanitarian Aid in Uganda

Refugees in Uganda urgently need our support! According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), thousands of people flee from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), and other neighboring countries every month due to ongoing conflicts. Eighty-one percent of the refugees are women and children. The lack of financial support for humanitarian aid makes it difficult to provide sufficient resources such as food, medical care, and shelter. In Bidibidi Camp, Uganda's largest refugee camp, and in Nakivale Camp in the south of the country, approximately 240,000 and 180,000 people, respectively, rely on humanitarian assistance. In these regions, HEKS/EPER provides emergency aid to refugees and the local population and works closely with regional and local partner organizations and has also established a partnership with the private sector.

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A Dignified Life for Refugees

In the remote Bidibidi Camp, support from aid organizations and international funding continues to decline. This means that fewer resources and services are available for the people living there. Nearly two-thirds of the girls attending school in this camp lack access to basic hygiene products (such as menstrual supplies) and adequate sanitation facilities. This lack directly affects the education of girls, as they often have to miss classes due to inadequate hygiene options, limiting their educational opportunities.

HEKS/EPER collaborates with the partner organization «Yumbe Gender Based Violence Reduction Network» to improve menstrual health and hygiene for women in the camp. As part of this project, local businesses are established to train women and girls in the production of sustainable hygiene products.

Reducing Conflicts through Better Living Conditions

HEKS/EPER also partners with the organization "Community Empowerment for Rural Development" to increase the income of both the local population and refugees through joint agricultural activities and to promote peaceful coexistence. The project improves access to food and creates additional earning opportunities, strengthening the self-sufficiency of the people. It includes the construction and maintenance of water infrastructure, training for water committees, and awareness campaigns on hygiene and sanitation in the communities. Additionally, new sanitation facilities and drinking water points are being established. This directly benefits 31,500 people, including over 2,000 refugees from South Sudan and about 10,500 members of the local community in Bidibidi Camp.

The project targets two groups: the refugees and the Ugandan villagers from surrounding areas who also live under difficult conditions. In total, 900 households from the local population and approximately 5,500 people from the camp benefit. The project's goal is to sustainably improve the living conditions of both South Sudanese refugees and the Ugandan population in Bidibidi Camp, promoting harmonious coexistence. It also fosters peaceful relations between South Sudanese refugees and the Ugandan community in the camp. The needs of local communities regarding water, sanitation, and hygiene are also addressed in a new project in the Zombo district, south of Bidibidi.

Expansion of Aid in «Nakivale Camp»

In 2023, HEKS/EPER expanded its work to Nakivale Camp in the southwest of the country, which hosts many refugees from the conflict in North Kivu, DR Congo. To improve the difficult situation and the limited access to essential services, HEKS/EPER supports over 1,400 people with cash assistance, scholarships, and paid work opportunities. This approach not only helps to meet acute needs but also strengthens the local economy and improves living conditions and food security for the people.

Last Update: October 2024

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