DRC has worked with Sudanese refugees and the Ugandan communities hosting them in West Nile since 1999.
More than 200.000 refugees lived in this area until the sudanese peace agreement was signed in 2005, after which peolple slowly started to go home. They have primarily been supported through agricultural training, small scale community projects, capacity building and information campaigns, all of which have helped strenghten their self reliance and ability to manage their lives when circumstances change.
Support to Internally Displaced People
In 2007 DRC expanded it's operation to also include support to IDPs living in camps, and those returning home in Northern Uganda. DRC's role working with IDPs has largely been provision of protection through presence and monitoring, advocacy on behalf of the population and helping the communities to rebuild their own support systems for helping the vulnerable.
As more and more people return home to the villages they left 10-15 years ago, DRC is continuing to improve their living standards by securing their basic rights. Access to safe water, shelter, food and education are among the projects, which contribute to rehabilitation and return to normal life.
Rufugees and internally displaced people in Uganda
Uganda, which has one of the most inclusive refugee laws in the world, has hosted refugees from central, east and horn of Africa continuously for the past 50 years.
Throughout the many conflicts faced by the surrounding countries at different times, people have looked for, and found, safety and support in Uganda.
Unfortunately Uganda has also had its share of conflicts and particularly the North has been seriously affected by fighting between the Lords Resistance Army and the Ugandan Army.
2 million people have been displaced during the past 20 years, thousands have been killed and as many as 30.000 children have been abducted and trained as child soldiers. Since the cessation of hostilities in 2006, and the gradual return of freedom of movement, many people have returned home and have started to rebuild their lives.
