(Cover photo by Peter Reid/Story photo courtesy ECM)
John Rouster with Every Child Ministries says, "It's a slow process. They're not enforcing the timeframe, but I believe they would like to see the people in the IDP camps out of there as soon as possible."
Since the peace accord in 2006, the government has been trying to resettle the hundreds of thousands who were displaced by the fighting. However, there's been reluctance on the part of the Internally Displaced People (IDPs).
Aside from physical risk to the vulnerable women and children (the survivors of the war), often, there's nothing left for refugees to return to. Land issues and the lack of infrastructure are complicating the resettlements.
Rouster says, "Many of the women--their husbands have been killed or captured and taken away. One woman said, 'I have four children. I have to work full time just to feed the children. How can I build a hut?'"
In July 2007, ECM partnered with Favor of God Ministries and Gulu Community Bible Church to carry out a short-term medical mission to Limitator Resettlement Area. When they arrived, there was no water, because the wells were destroyed in the war.
The following year, Every Child Ministries made medical assistance a greater part of its summer ministry plans. Now they are trying to get sponsors for more orphans from the camp so they can begin to attend school and get supplemental nutrition, spiritual and practical guidance.
This year, ECM sent a fulltime missionary to attend the Northern Tego IDP camp. Christine Sliwinski arrived in October. Rouster explains, "She is helping women there resettle that don't have husbands. She's also working with children in this area that Every Child Ministries has developed a sponsorship project."
Rouster says Sliwinski is helping to rebuild huts and is using short-term ministry teams to aid the process. For $22, their teams build the walls, and the women and their families put the roofs on.
Sliwinski is not only helping to rebuild lives, she's also offering the hope of Jesus Christ. You can help. Click here for details.
