Disabled refugees receive decent shelters
By Moses Mukitale, Communication Coordinator, West Nile Refugee Response
Ask me for a definition of a hero, and I’ll point you to 39-year-old David Koruk. I met this father of four recently in a refugee settlement in northern Uganda and he shared his harrowing tale of escaping gunfire to flee his homeland and protect his family. In November 2016, David’s home in Central Equatorial State in South Sudan witnessed heavy shelling, and David acted.
“I crept out of the house, followed by my mum on her wheelchair and my two crippled nephews crawling on their hands. It was dark in the night. We moved quietly to a nearby trading centre as I sought for a motorbike rider to rush them towards Uganda. I succeeded in getting two bikes, one for my nephews and another for my mum. After seeing them off, I sneaked back to my house, fetched my three children and wife and we also fled for Uganda,” David narrates.
The family spent three days on the road, sleeping in open bushes and eating anything they found on the way. David’s children where seven, four and two years old, respectively, while his wife was six months pregnant. He was unsure of his mother’s and nephews’ whereabouts.
“My biggest worry during all that time was mainly my mother and two nephews. I was worried that they could be killed on the way. My mother cannot move, she has to be carried and assisted to go to toilet.” David explains.
The family of eight was able to reunite at Palorinya refugee reception centre in northern Uganda and later resettled on a 30x30 metre plot of land. It was then that the grim reality hit David. Starting a new life in the middle of nowhere, with seven people to support, three of whom are disabled. Two months later a new member arrived, little baby Joy.
“The baby came at a very puzzling time. We had earlier received a small temporary plastic shelter but after four heavy downpours, the roof went off. All eight of us were sleeping in there. I then strategized and build a mud-walled straw house to accommodate my mother, nephews, and our three children. My wife, the new baby and I stayed in the plastic shelter to avoid overcrowding the other lot. Whenever it rained, we would get up and stand in one corner,” David adds.
But just as when David’s world all seemed to be crushing, lady luck knocked.
World Vision received funding from the government of Finland to, among other activities, construct 20 decent semi-permanent houses for vulnerable disabled refugee households like David’s family. Beneficiaries also received a latrine and bathroom. Today, David’s compound blooms with a brand new 16 square metre brick house, able to accommodate his family.
The house is made of clay bricks and soil motor with a cemented floor and straw roof. It has one wooden door and two windows.
“My mother is so happy with this new house and so are my two disabled nephews. My nephews are orphaned and I’ve been with them since they were little. This house is warm at night, cool during daytime and does not leak when it rains. The house also accommodates my three other children. Me, my wife and our last born are putting up in another mud walled house I put up,” a thrilled David narrates.
The situation before and after World Vision's intervention. Majority of the refugees still live in houses made with plastic material
Two other excited beneficiaries are also celebrating the arrival of a decent and spacious shelter. 29-year-old Jane Jaguru is lost of words. She’s no different to David’s nephews and mother. But with her new house, Jane is looking forward to napping like a baby again.
“My father died when I was very young. I grew up with only my mum and she’s the one I escaped with to Uganda. We’ve been staying in a plastic shelter since we got here. The plastic shelter is very uncomfortable, have no window and let in insects at night. During the daytime you could not rest in it due to the heat. But this new house is different. It’s very well ventilated, has a door and window, is easy to clean and is accessible for me. The bathroom and toilet are also easy for me to use since they have ramps,” Jane explains.
49-year-old Samuel Luwate is also happy with his new home. Unlike Jane, Luwate has no relative staying with him. He lost touch with his wife and three children when mayhem broke out back home. During the fracas, he sustained a severe compound fracture on his right leg, which later culminated into a physical disability. Fortunately, he’s still able to move on both legs, albeit with pain.
“The majority of the disabled people in South Sudan are abandoned by their family members when fighting breaks out. People look at us as a burden. And you can’t blame them because everyone is running at that point. The majority of the disabled people that remain behind often get killed. This kind of support is very crucial to us because we are in a new environment, away from our communities where everybody knew us and supported us,” Samuel explains.
Samuel, Jane and numerous other disabled refugees at Palorinya have not only received shelters from World Vision. They’ve also been empowered with various life skills to boost their household incomes. As a result, they’ve formed enterprising groups comprising both of refugees and host community members. Lately they are producing liquid soap, beaded hand bags, craft sandals, bangles among other items.
Under World Vision’s renewed funding from the government of Finland, 35 more shelters for vulnerable disabled refugees are to be constructed at Palorinya refugee settlement in 2018. There will also be more life skills empowerment programs to support disabled persons with various skills for income generating activities.