Refugee Report July/August 2021
In our last report, the biggest challenge going forward was the outbreak of Covid in the entire nation of Uganda and resultant restrictions on travel and gatherings in the settlements. During July tragically one of the most respected leaders of the refugees, Pastor Abraham, died of Covid. His family and the entire settlement where he lived were understandably traumatized. However, no one else got sick and all the farming and other co-ops are again fully functioning.
A major accomplishment this month was the purchase and installation of a solar power system in the Mungula settlement. This has enabled residents to have lighted churches for worship and other community events, for children to gather for study and social activities, and to charge phones and other devices instead of having to travel to town. The effect on overall morale of the community has been huge.
Another accomplishment made possible by our donors was the provision of birth supplies to pregnant women. Women who do not have their own supplies had been excluded from the health centers to give birth, thus putting them in a very precarious position. There was a great deal of jubilation when the supplies were distributed, and we now have additional supplies in storage.
The other health-related accomplishment is planning and preparation to prevent two major health threats, covid and typhoid. There has been on-going work to prevent another outbreak of typhoid such as occurred earlier this year as a result of flooding in November. Repairs to latrines and measures to prevent future flooding are now almost complete. Soap, water containers, and hand and container cleaning stations have been set up and supplied again with funds provided by our donors.
In the coming months, the farm co-ops will be focused on harvesting their crops. The maize, millet, and ground nut crops were quite successful and a bountiful harvest is expected, a huge hedge against hunger and malnutrition that have beset the community in the past in the dry season, December through March. Cash crops simsim (sesame) and sorghum are also doing well and expected to be sold to provide additional funds for community needs.
In the month ahead, the grain mills will be purchased and installed. By October, grain milling co-ops, consisting mostly of women, will be set up in each settlement. They will be offering free or reduced cost grain milling to both refugees and neighboring Ugandans. This will be a huge savings for individuals who can use their scarce cash for school fees and other priorities, as well as for the community which will realize some income from the profits generated by the co-ops. An update on this exciting new project and pictures of the grain mills being installed and operating will be in the next report.