Severe danger facing LGBTQ refugees in camp in South Sudan

My Ugandan LGBTQ refugee friends in the Gørom* camp in South Sudan are facing a severe threat. The South Sudan authorities are forcing them to leave the camp and move into Juba, the capital of the country.

The UNHCR first managed to stop this from happening, but from what I hear now, they have given in to the pressure from the authorities. The UNHCR says they are going to help the LGBTQ refugees in Juba, but since the South Sudanese insist that the refugees are not to live together in one area, this may be difficult.

The refugees have not been offered transport or new places to live. In other words: They must pay for this themselves, which is going to be a huge challenge.

Needless to say, the refugees will have less protection in the city than in the camp, and given the rampant homophobia and transphobia in South Sudan, their lives may be at risk.

I have contacted UNHCR for more information. If more do the same, this may mobilize more resources in the agency to stop this from happening. 

I suggest you send a polite email to Olga Sarrado, Global Spokesperson, East and Horn of Africa, at sarrado@unhcr.org voicing your concern. Copy the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representation in South Sudan  at ssdjuprot@unhcr.org as well as Faith Kasina at kasina@unhcr.org .

We are now trying to build up some funds that can serve as a buffer if they truly have to move to the city. Go to our fundraiser page to donate. Any amount helps.

Per Koch
Oslo, Norway

* The name of the camp ("Gørøm," but with o's) is misspelled deliberately to stop the South Sudan authorities from finding this site and identifying the LGBTQ refugees.

UPDATE OF MAY 23 WITH INFORMATION FROM UNHCR

A representative of UNHCR has provided me with the following information: 

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is aware of the request by the Government of South Sudan, through the Commission for Refugee Affairs (CRA), for LGBTIQ+ asylum-seekers to relocate from the G*rom refugee settlement to Juba Town. According to the CRA, the request is based on the current security situation in G*rom, where hostility from host communities and local authorities toward the presence of LGBTIQ+ individuals has increased.

While UNHCR has been working to process resettlement cases for extremely vulnerable refugees, including some LGBTIQ+ asylum-seekers and others with protection needs, recent reductions in resettlement quotas have limited departures. To date, only 49 asylum-seekers have been resettled to third countries. While efforts continue to secure additional resettlement opportunities, there is currently no immediate prospect of resettlement for most of these cases. Local integration in Juba or other parts of South Sudan is likely to be the most viable option for many. 

Should LGBTIQ+ asylum-seekers choose to move to Juba Town, UNHCR will continue to provide legal protection and advocate with humanitarian partners to ensure access to basic assistance for urban refugees.

In addition, UNHCR is advocating with authorities to avoid any forced evictions from G*rom, as such actions would significantly heighten the security and survival risks for affected individuals. Unfortunately, neither UNHCR nor its partners currently have funding to provide an immediate life-saving response should forced relocation occur.

Photo: dk_photos

An update on the situation in East Africa

Nakafeero updates me continuously on the situation in the refugee camp in South Sudan (which I will not name out of fear of attacks against LGBTQ refugees).

The good news first:

Food for Eid celebrations.

In spite of armed clashes in South Sudan itself, these have not affected the refugees directly. We see nothing like the horrifying attacks on refugee camps in Sudan, the country in the north. 

Moreover, Trump's destruction of USAID has so far not affected our friends greatly, although that might change soon. Some NGOs have already stopped helping.

UNHCR seems to have handled a recent threat against the LGBTQ refugees in the camp in a constructive way. Again I cannot give you details out of fear of identification and repercussions, but I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this outcome.

We are now trying to build up some reserves to handle sudden and unexpected events. 

We have had a few events like that lately, like an LGBTQ refugee in South Sudan who needed treatment for pneumonia. (They are now fine!) In March one of the members of Nakafeero's LGBTQ community was violently attacked  over in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. We used funds provided by you to pay for the hospital bill.

We have also used some funds to arrange local Eid and Easter celebrations. It is extremely important to create positive and life affirming spaces in places like these.

Nakafeero tells me that the refugees in South Sudan as well as her people in Kakukma in Kenya are in need of:

Sanitary pads
Pampers for babies
Milk for babies
Knickers
Food stuff
Some shoes for babies and adults

Any help is greatly appreciated!

You can donate here.

Per Koch, Oslo, Norway

Nakafeero reports on the needs of her LGBTQ refugees in Kenya and South Sudan

Here's a message from Nakafeero on the challenges faced by the LGBTQ refugees in Kenya and South Sudan:

"And am kindly requesting you if you can get some money to transport some of our queer refugee's from Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya to South Sudan.

And even creating a fence in South Sudan for our protection.

From Nakafeero's latest TikTok video

It’s been a month now and the situation in Kakuma refugee camp has reached a critical point. Refugees here are facing unimaginable challenges as they struggle with severe shortages of water and food.

Many families are going days without adequate sustenance and the lack of clean water which leads to health risks, particularly for children and the elderly.

These resilient individuals have already endured so much on their journeys to safety and now they are facing even graver hardships. It's heartbreaking to witness the toll this is taking on their physical and mental well-being.

We must raise awareness and urge for support and assistance to help alleviate their suffering. Every voice matters, every action counts. Let’s stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Kakuma and demand change.

Please share this post to spread the word and consider supporting them in any way. Together, we can make a difference.

Love and solidarity 🙏 🏳️‍🌈 ​
Nakafeero"

..........................................

Nakafeero tells me that they are in particular need of:

Rice
Cooking oil
Yellow bananas
Passion fruit
Ingredients
Cold water
Sweet potatoes
Flour for making chapati to eat on iftali

I'll make sure they get your donation.

Per Koch

Follow Nakafeero on TikTok and watch her latest report over there.

To donate, go to our Fundrazr page!

The LGBTQ refugees in in East Africa are facing new problems - A Progress Report

Dramatic policy shifts and local floods make life uncertain for the refugees in East Africa.

As reported Nakafeero is now in a camp in South Sudan, where she is exploring the possibility of getting resettlement for as many of her people as possible. 

(We are not naming the camp in South Sudan for security purposes. The local police use web search to identify LGBTQ refugees.)

At the same time we keep track of what is happening to those who remain in Kakuma in Kenya.

Resettlement

Let us look at the resettlement first.

Before Trump took over in Washington, quite a few LGBTQ refugees had been allowed entry into the US from the South Sudan camp, assisted by American NGOs and the American government. This is why some of Nakafeero's group went to South Sudan. This policy was immediately cancelled when the new administration took over.

We doubt very much that it will be restarted, given the current regime's anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and policies. 

Because of this the refugees are looking for alternative destinations, Canada being one of them. If you have any information regarding open doors, let us know.

Nakafeero & Co have put any further journeys from Kenya to South Sudan on hold for the time being.

The dismantling of USAID

The Trump administration's attempted dismantling of  the American development agency USAID has also caused chaos and despair. Keep in mind that many NGOs get support from USAID, and many of them have had to reduce their activity levels.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced waivers for life-saving humanitarian assistance, but Amnesty reports that the United States government’s sweeping freeze on foreign aid is severely imperiling the human rights of refugees, civilians in armed conflict areas and individuals fleeing persecution in - for instance - Myanmar.

A judge has ordered the Trump administration to temporarily allow funds for foreign aid to flow again, pointing to the damage  done to the nonprofits and other organizations that help carry out U.S. assistance overseas. The order applies to contracts that were in place before Trump issued his Jan. 20 executive order freezing foreign assistance.

So far our friends in Kakuma in Kenya and the camp in South Sudan have not registered a stop in aid from the UNHCR and the local NGOs. However, we are preparing for the worst, including the possibility that the refugees would have to buy all food, medicine and clothing with their own funds.

We will let you know how that goes.

Kakuma

The situation over Kenya Kakuma refugee's camp has been bad as they got some heavy rain which destroyed the property of some people, Nakafeero tells me: 

"And Scorpions are attaching people and snake's since the place is very cold."

The group lost plates, cups and clothes, Nakafeero says:  

"And we probably need  to cement barriers inside ourselves, so that snakes and Scorpions or harmful insects can't attack us."

Any help will be appreciated!

Social media problems

We have faced some serious challenges with Nakafeero's Mastodon-account. Mastodon is a European twitter-alternative that is supposed to be both color blind and LGBTQ-inclusive.

Nevertheless, she has had several accounts closed down, most likely because she has linked to our fundrzr-account, which is - for some bizarre reason - seen as spam. There is nothing in the code of conduct that implies that you are not allowed to ask people for help. For some reason my account has not been affected. 

She has had to put up another account over at https://masto.ai/@Nakafeero@mas.to . If you have followed her before or want to talk to her now, that is one place to do so.  She can also be contacted over at Bluesky at  https://bsky.app/profile/nakafeeroswabulah.bsky.social . We have also a common account over at Mastodon: https://lgbtqia.space/@LGBTQ_Kakuma 

Per Koch

per.koch@aviana.com

If you want to help Nakafeero and her friends, donate over at our Fundrzr page!

Donald Trump ends the arrival of persecuted LGBTQ refugees in the US

The US State Department has cancelled travel for refugees already approved to fly to the United States. Trump has suspended the resettlement program that has provided a safe haven for many LGBTQ people fleeing persecution.

Our friends in the camp in South Sudan have hoped to be allowed entry into the US. Indeed, some of them are already there. But for the remaining the future looks bleak.

The New York Times writes:

"The State Department abruptly canceled travel for thousands of refugees already approved to fly to the United States, days before a deadline that President Trump had set for suspending the resettlement program that provides safe haven for people fleeing persecution.

The cancellation of the flights comes on the heels of an executive order signed by Mr. Trump on Monday that indefinitely paused the refugee resettlement. The order effectively grinds to a halt the process of bringing refugees into the country, which involves multiple federal agencies, as well as nonprofits that receive the newcomers."

More than 10,000 refugees were currently in the pipeline to travel to the United States.

The Hill reports that a  Day 1 order from Trump pauses the refugee program for a minimum of three months, calling for the departments of State and of Homeland Security to issue a report within 90 days detailing whether it’s in the nation’s interests to resume the admission of refugees. 

There is little reason to believe that Trump will open doors again, given his racist anti-immigrant rhetoric, unless the decision is successfully challenged in court.

Trump has also shut down the CBP One app who has been used by the American government to  create an orderly way for migrants to enter the U.S. and to reduce illegal border crossings.

Our contacts in South Sudan refers to a message from Welcome.US, an American organization built to inspire, mobilize, and empower Americans from all corners of the country to welcome and support those seeking refuge in the country. 

Welcome.US reports that The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) will be suspended on Jan. 27, until further notice, except on a case-by-case basis. This includes the Welcome Corps, a private sponsorship program under USRAP. The Welcome Corps, launched in 2023 by the U.S. State Department, allows Americans to privately sponsor refugees to come to safety in the United States.

At the moment the LGBTQ refugees in South Sudan are caught in Limbo as far as the US is concerned.  They are looking into the possibility of finding refuge in Canada. I will come back to you with more info on that when available.

In the meantime: Here is an article on the life of a trans woman living in a refugee camp in South Sudan. It describes the challenges they are facing in Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan.

Image: Maria Lapteva

Note that I am withholding the name of the refugee camp in South Sudan as the local authorities are searching the web for information that can help them identify LGBTQ refugees.

The queer community in Kenya has condemned the government’s policy of discriminating against LGBTQ asylum seekers

The queer community in Kenya has launched a petition condemning the government's discrimination against LGBTQ asylum seekers.

This action comes in response to comments made by Refugee Affairs Commissioner John Burugu, who stated that Kenya would not consider persecution based on sexual orientation or gender identity as sufficient grounds for asylum.

The petition accuses Kenya's Department of Refugee Services of putting queer asylum seekers at greater risk of persecution, violence, and exploitation.

The Kenya 2021 Refugees Act does not explicitly recognize queer people among vulnerable individuals fleeing persecution. The law only recognizes refugees or asylum seekers as people who are persecuted based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership of a social group. 

LGBTQ asylum seekers face prolonged waiting periods, sometimes up to a decade, for decisions on their applications.

The petition has garnered over 200 signatures and will be presented to various Kenyan and international human rights bodies.

Petitioners are calling for immediate action to protect LGBTQ asylum seekers and ensure their rights are respected under international law.

The situation for LGBTQ asylum seekers in Kenya has reportedly worsened since 2017.

There are an estimated 1,000 LGBTQ refugees in Kenya, with many fleeing from neighboring countries like Uganda.

The Center for Minority Rights and Strategic Litigation, a Kenyan LGBTQ rights group, has criticized the government's stance, stating that it violates both national and international laws protecting refugees.

The petition aims to address discrimination, expedite application processes, and ensure representation for LGBTQ asylum seekers in global decision-making forums

Source: The Washington Blade.

You can sign the petition here.

LGBTQ Kakuma refugees decide to move to South Sudan camp in hope of repatriation

Nakafeero and friend.

Queer LGBTQ activists like Nakafeero and Elvis are taking their groups of Ugandan refugees to a camp in South Sudan (name withheld for security purposes), where there are real chances of being repatriated to a much more safer country.

As reported many of the LGBTQ refugees in the Kakuma camp in Kenya are feeling increasingly unsafe. They have gotten messages from a public official noting that the Kenyan government is not recognizing the LGBTQ status of any refugee in their camp and that being queer or trans is not seen as a valid reason for getting protection as refugees.

Here's an email Edward, a member of the Kakuma LGBTQ-community, got from a Kenyan commissioner: 

The refugee camp in South Sudan is not necessarily a safer place for the Ugandan refugees, but both the Canadian and US governments have officials in place who are organizing repatriation for refugees, including those LGBTQ.

Elvis, a friend and ally of Nakafeero, has already taken their group of around 10 refugees to the camp and they tell me that "another 20 mates have been confirmed resettled to Canada now totaling to about 50 at the moment as the rest of us await for the 🇺🇸 USA embassy upcoming this month."

Unlike the Kakuma camp, the South Sudan camp is seeing the end of its life. South Sudanese refugees are being moved out, and several governments are helping resettle the non-Sudanese ones. In other words: Our LGBTQ-refugees are hopeful that they too will be given refugee elsewhere.

The plan now is to move as many of the Ugandan LGBTQ-refugees from Kakuma in Kenya to South Sudan. That will take some time and cost some money. We will keep you posted on how that goes. In the meantime we still need your support, ensuring that the refugees have the necessities needed: food, sanitary products, medicine and so one.

We are also working on a school project for the kids in Kakuma and South Sudan. Both camps provide rudimentary schooling for the children, but children of LGBTQ-refugees are harassed by both adults and other kids, and going to school goes from being directly unpleasant to straight out dangerous. Because of this the plan is to home school the kids. I will let you know more about this soon.

Nakafeero, Elvis and their extended LGBTQ families in Kakuma and South Sudan continue to need your help. Any amount is welcome!

Nakafeero & Co's crowd funding.

Elvis & Co's crowd funding.

Per Koch
Oslo, Norway