Ugandan Baptists prepare radical refugee rescue plan
-19/05/06
A radical plan by the B
Ugandan Baptists prepare radical refugee rescue plan
-19/05/06
A radical plan by the Baptist Union of Uganda (BUU) aims to return around 35,000 people, currently trapped in camps and living in atrocious conditions, to their homes in the north of the country, according to the Baptist Times newspaper in the UK.
The camps house up to 2 million people forced to live there because of the actions of the so-called Lordís Resistance Army. The terrorist militia has been responsible for appalling brutality for nearly 20 years, particularly against children.
The camps have recently been described by a United Nations expert as ìthe worst place in the world to be a child todayî. HIV/Aids infection is as high as 50 per cent, and sexual violence is routine.
ìThe situation in the camps has been bad for the last 20 years,î says Baptist Union of Uganda general secretary, the Rev Alex Wanyama.
He continues: ìThe Lordís Resistance Army was abducting children, and so there was no option ñ if you wanted to live, you went to the camps. They are crowded places, there is nothing to cover you, and food is a big problem ñ there is no secure availability, either from the government or the aid agencies. And there is a constant fear of attack, even in the camps.î
However, while the LRA has not yet been defeated, large areas which it controlled have been declared safe. The BUU is raising funds to provide 500 families in each of seven districts with the resources needed to return. A family comprises on average 10 people.
ìThe problem is, what are they going back to?î said Mr Wanyama. ìThere is nothing there. Thatís why we are concerned as a church organisation. This is a very great opportunity for us to show Godís love and help people continue with a life beyond the camps. Someone has to help them.î
Families will be provided with kits to help them re-establish themselves in their homes. They will be given a hoe, an axe or machete, seeds, clothing and mosquito nets, as well as food and clothing for their current needs. Each kit will cost £35.
Funding is being sought from bodies including BMS World Mission ñ an interdenominational agency primarily backed by Baptists. The African Pastors Fellowship, which supports ministers in the region with educational and other material, is supporting the BUU and raising funds to send pastors back to their villages.
Meanwhile, Mennonite Central Committee ñ an inter-Mennonite relief and development organization ñ is supporting the Church of Uganda, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, in a project to help members of the Iteso and Karimojong peoples of northeastern Uganda to be peacemakers in their communities.
[Also on Ekklesia: Mennonites and Anglicans work to overcome violence in northeast Uganda; Sentamu to launch charity commemorating martyr killed by Idi Amin; Religious leaders commit to stem African violence]
Ugandan Baptists prepare radical refugee rescue plan
-19/05/06
A radical plan by the Baptist Union of Uganda (BUU) aims to return around 35,000 people, currently trapped in camps and living in atrocious conditions, to their homes in the north of the country, according to the Baptist Times newspaper in the UK.
The camps house up to 2 million people forced to live there because of the actions of the so-called Lordís Resistance Army. The terrorist militia has been responsible for appalling brutality for nearly 20 years, particularly against children.
The camps have recently been described by a United Nations expert as ìthe worst place in the world to be a child todayî. HIV/Aids infection is as high as 50 per cent, and sexual violence is routine.
ìThe situation in the camps has been bad for the last 20 years,î says Baptist Union of Uganda general secretary, the Rev Alex Wanyama.
He continues: ìThe Lordís Resistance Army was abducting children, and so there was no option ñ if you wanted to live, you went to the camps. They are crowded places, there is nothing to cover you, and food is a big problem ñ there is no secure availability, either from the government or the aid agencies. And there is a constant fear of attack, even in the camps.î
However, while the LRA has not yet been defeated, large areas which it controlled have been declared safe. The BUU is raising funds to provide 500 families in each of seven districts with the resources needed to return. A family comprises on average 10 people.
ìThe problem is, what are they going back to?î said Mr Wanyama. ìThere is nothing there. Thatís why we are concerned as a church organisation. This is a very great opportunity for us to show Godís love and help people continue with a life beyond the camps. Someone has to help them.î
Families will be provided with kits to help them re-establish themselves in their homes. They will be given a hoe, an axe or machete, seeds, clothing and mosquito nets, as well as food and clothing for their current needs. Each kit will cost £35.
Funding is being sought from bodies including BMS World Mission ñ an interdenominational agency primarily backed by Baptists. The African Pastors Fellowship, which supports ministers in the region with educational and other material, is supporting the BUU and raising funds to send pastors back to their villages.
Meanwhile, Mennonite Central Committee ñ an inter-Mennonite relief and development organization ñ is supporting the Church of Uganda, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, in a project to help members of the Iteso and Karimojong peoples of northeastern Uganda to be peacemakers in their communities.
[Also on Ekklesia: Mennonites and Anglicans work to overcome violence in northeast Uganda; Sentamu to launch charity commemorating martyr killed by Idi Amin; Religious leaders commit to stem African violence]