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