Fred Taban provides an update

Fred Taban provides a round-up of news and CRESS activity during April. Ceasefire monitors in South Sudan have called upon warring factions to immediately end hostilities as famine and economic hardships continue to destroy the war-torn country. Citizens continue to be targeted by both parties and other armed groups as evidenced in the most recent attacks in Jalimo in Kajo Keji, Wau and Parajok areas during the Holy week.

General Situation in South Sudan IDPs Camps

It’s pretty gloomy. We’re seeing a lot of confusion in terms of what needs to be done (water, food, shelter, health) when the required resources are lacking.

General Situation in South Sudanese Refugee Camps in Uganda

It’s a difficult time for the refugee camps. It is a crisis and the international community must come together with their resources and expertise to ensure the humanitarian appeals are fully funded and also to explore the reasons why people are fleeing in the first place.

With more than 2,000 South Sudanese refugees pouring into Uganda every day, plus another 1.2 million already in the country, the government and aid agencies are struggling to feed these huge numbers and are placing a huge strain on the agencies already stressed ability to cater for their food, water, healthcare and education of the refugees. Uganda is currently ranked as the second largest refugee-hosting country in the world after Turkey with the World Food Programme estimating Uganda’s monthly food requirement for the refugees at about $12m.

CRESS Education Programme

1. All the children under the CRESS Education sponsorship project have been located and are all in various schools in Uganda. However, costs have gone up and placing a strain on the parents.
2. CRESS received funding from Salisbury-Sudan Link towards CRESS education activities. These monies will go towards the training of trainers (ToT) on Post Trauma Healing and Counselling amongst the women and church leaders in the refugee camps of Belameling and Morobi in Uganda. The training was scheduled to start on the 21 May 2017.

CRESS Relief Assistance

1. A total of 300 mosquito nets have been distributed to refugee children under 5 years, pregnant mothers and elderly persons in the camps of Bidi Bidi, Rhino Camp and Liwolo IDP camp. This means CRESS has provided protection from malaria carrying mosquitoes to about 1,200 persons based on a single net being used by four children.
2.  $2,000 distributed to families of clergy in the archdeaconries of Kala, Liwolo and Bori with each family receiving $50 as food aid or the family deems fit to spend on most immediate need.

Clinic

Work on the proposed clinic premises are still on going. In the month of April the landlord lost his younger brother and work stopped for over a week. We are optimistic that the clinic should be able to begin offering services in June, although not at full capacity as we we shall still be without licence with the local government.

CRESS Staffing

1. At the present CRESS has a total of seven staff.
2. The Agriculture Programme is still on hold as we work out new strategies under the immerging circumstances. Sadly, this means the services of the agriculture staff are also on hold.
3. We hope to recall some of the essential clinic staff in June.
4. We are happy that Rose Yangi the Book Keeper/office assistant has resumed work.

Please pray for the refugee needs in Uganda camps and the displaced persons in the camps in South Sudan.