Refugee children reunite with their families amidst jubilations

AGGREY NYONDWA KIKOBERA

Twenty four (24) unaccompanied minors were last week reunited with their long lost families in Rwamwanja, Kyangwali and Nakivale refugee settlements.

This group of children from Kyaka II benefited from the Red Cross’ Restoration of Family Links program which reunites individuals with their relatives globally, across all refugee settlements.

Majority of the kids were about 10 years on average, and these were handed over to their parents and families who had been waiting for so long to receive them.

Most of the reunited families are from Congo and Rwanda who crossed to Uganda through Bunagana, Nyakabande and other entry points in order to flee conflict in Congo.

“The biggest number of refugees we receive here are children and women, majority of these are unaccompanied minors who are forced to separate with their parents due to war circumstances. Government has worked with partners like the Red Cross to trace their families and reunite them," said Fred Kiwanuka, the Commandant OPM, Kyaka II refugee settlement in Mubende.

Since December 2017, there has been a DRC refugee influx in Uganda especially in the western part of the country.

According to recent data released by UNCHR, the UN refugee agency, there are over 270,000 DRC refugees in Uganda and majority of these are in Kyangwali, Kyaka and Rwamwanja settlements.

According to Uganda Red Cross, about 2,500 cases of reunification need are identified a year. Since the beginning of 2018, over 700 cases have been identified and of these, 300 family reunifications have been conducted.

“We understand that during war people scatter and the most affected ones are the vulnerable groups like the children. These then cross to Uganda without any information about their families’ whereabouts. The Red Cross then steps in to offer the tracing services and we are happy to note that in most cases the process is successful and has brought back smiles to parents and their children after a long period of separation," said Irene Nakasiita, the head of PR, Uganda Red Cross Society.

Eighteen children were transferred to join their parents in Rwamanja in Kyenjojo district, and the remaining six were transported to Kyangwali and Nakivale in Hoima and Isingiro districts respectively.\

Some of the children in one of the refugee camps in Hoima

The children who were evidently jubilant shed tears of joy on sight of their lost parents and relatives. The process is conducted on mutual consent and the Red Cross ensures a thorough process of verifying one’s family and ensuring that both parties are happy with the reunification.

“Any simple detail or information that one has about their relatives gives us a starting point. We have telephone services so once someone has a phone number of their relative we help them call, and then we do the follow up. We also use pictures and Red Cross Messages in the process to identify one’s family and establish a communication channel” Nakasiita added.

Consolatrice Mirimo, a 22 year old Congolese refugee in Rwamwanja settlement was ecstatic after reuniting with her six little brothers who she hadn’t seen in five years.

“As a big sister, I am really grateful. It’s really been long since I saw my brothers. Back in Congo, I was like their mother since our mother had abandoned us. So, not being by their side for all this time has really bothered me a lot. I had never stopped looking for them and hoping to see them one day, I prayed to God night and day. I am so happy that today this prayer has been answered,” she said with tears in her eyes.

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