RELIEF: Joe Foundation Supports Congolese Refugees In Kyakka

By Our Reporter

KYAKA – Kyenjojo

Scores of Congolese refugees settled in Kyakka refugee settlement Camp in Kyenjojo district were all smiles after a two day crusade. The crusade organised by the Joe Foundation Uganda saw multitudes saved, and dozens cured of several ailments.

Noah Kamanzi the lead Pastor at the Grace Upward Church in Lubowa shared the message of Good News. Upward Church is one of the consortiums under the Joe Foundation.

“It was a two days of prayer, miracle’s and joy with the refugees. Many got saved, while dozens received miracles,” said Bishop Kamanzi.

He noted that over 260 men, women and children from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) received relief items in form of sugar, soap, clothes, and food item.

Lost “Orphans”

As the good message was being received, it emerged that challenges are rife in the Refugee settlement camps.

Noah Kamanzi said hundreds of children in the camp dont know the whereabouts of their parents. “These children ran away from the war in DRC, they dont know whether their parents are alive or dead. They are desperate to trace for their parents,” said Kamanzi.

He said in an interview that over 3000 mothers had been identified to be supported to boost their livelihoods. “The refugees need a lot of support in form of food,  blankets and beddings. As Joe Foundation Uganda we have secured land to support these mothers grow food. We need to empower them with hand hoes, and thus call for humanitarian support in this endeavor,” he said.

He pointed further that many children are in dire need of education and need to be supported with scholastic materials and clothes.

 

“We are currently taking care of over 300 refugee children, with more 700 in urgent need,” he said. Kamanzi also noted that cases of rape within the camps especially among boys and girls sharing the small.shelters are on the rise.

“The cases of HIV/AiDS infection are on the increase, cases of suicide are rampant, the refugees cant survive on the paltry shs 10,000 (USD$2.5) that is given to them by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees as upkeep per month,” said Kamanzi.

Shelter for Refugees

Joe Foundation Uganda is currently planning to construct some 500 housing units for refugees living in congested camps. Noah Kamanzi said each housing unit will cost about USD$1000 ( UGX  3.8m)  “We are doing this to try to decongest the camps where you find a family of more than 8 persons living in a squeezed room,” he said