Category: Gender

On this 20^th day of June 2020, Gender- Environment and Development Action Uganda (GEDA-Uganda) would like to join the rest of the World to commemorate the World Refugee Day under the theme “Every Action counts,everyone can make a difference”. According to UNHCR  (May 2020) Uganda is hosting  1,424,373 refugees  51.7% females, 58.8% below 18 years and 2.5% elderly 60+ years. This World refugee day comes amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and as the world and cities went into lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus, the mass efforts to save lives have put one vulnerable group more at risk. Development and humanitarian programs that support women, girls and other vulnerable groups have been disrupted, although their needs may have amplified.

Refugees in Uganda have since April 2020 received 30% cut in food assistance due to limited funding to the great lakes region. This is likely to force households to engage in negative coping mechanisms, such as consuming less food. Where women eat last and least, this may lead to additional Maternal, Infant and child malnutrition amongst the refugees.

In addition, Women and girls’ needs for protection services—including gender-based violence (GBV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) may have increased due to the COVID-19 lock down yet GBV is still rampant amongst refugees with women, girls and PSNs being most at risk, pressure for households to meet the basic needs during and post COVID-19 lock period with no or limited alternative livelihood options is likely to escalate Gender-Based Violence. A protection needs assessment conducted by APEAL consortium in January 2020 revealed that vulnerable refugees rely on negative coping mechanisms with most reported in Kyaka II refugee settlement in Uganda being exploitative casual labour reported by 63.5% of respondents; sale of food and NFI assistance (57.9%), Begging (56.7%), Child labour (49%) and Seek out for intimate/love relationship (24%).

Therefore, GEDA- Uganda would like to appeal to individuals, Organisations, UN agencies and the international community to Step up action for the plight of the refugees amidst the glaring effects of COVID-19 pandemic.  Together we can make a difference in the lives of millions of refugees world over.

Since the May 2020 floods in Kasese District that saw major rivers burst their banks destroying property worth millions of shillings, several displaced persons have remained in camps that were established at different schools premises by the District Authorities.

Several households in Maliba, Kilembe, Kitholhu, Kyarumba sub counties, Nyamwamba Division and other areas of the District were most affected as they saw their houses, property, being washed away by the rivers that broke their banks. Since then most of these households have been surviving on donations from different compassionate organisations that have managed to deliver food stuffs, tauplines, clothings among others.

The floods came amidst the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown in the country causing a double tragedy to the people of Kasese District.

During this period, there has also been a big cry and call especially among the women and girls of reproductive age that have found it hard accessing sanitary pads during their menstrual period times. This is one of the health concerns across all the IDP camps in the District.

Gender-Environment and Development Action yesterday afternoon joined the cause and delivered some boxes of sanitary pads to the IDPs in Kanyangeya parish. Gender sensitivity is one of our core areas of intervention. Speaking to the leaders and citizens in the IDP Margret Kidima the Director humanitarian, protection and emergency GEDA Uganda consoled the floods victims and gave them a ray of hope that GEDA Uganda was going to start training the women in the making of re-usable sanitary pads for sustainability purposes. The training is going to target 30 women and young girls who will be given start up kits after the training to be TOTs to the rest of the women in the IDP camp.

The women in the Kanyangeya IDP showed their appreciation to GEDA Uganda for the provision of sanitary pads and promised to cooperate during the trainings in the make of reusable sanitary pads.

As Gender-Environment and Development Action we continue to preach the gospel of gender equity and equality and GBV prevention and promise to continue working with different stakeholders to combat gender based violence and Violence Against Children (VAC).