Uganda (MNN) — Over
190,000 people live in refugee camps in northern Uganda, three years after the
government launched a resettlement program.
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.
