Bobi Wine thrills South Sudanese refugees

 

 

Bobi who moved with his wife Berbie Itungo, officials of Save the Children International and the National Newborn Steering Committee team visited the refugee settlement as an ambassador of the ‘Every One’ campaign under the Save the Children International campaign of the 15th State of the World’s Mothers report that focuses on the plight of mothers and children affected by humanitarian crises such as conflict. 

 

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Bobi and Berbie donated items at the Nyumanzi Health Center II which included baby diapers. 

He later performed a number of songs where children and teenagers joined in the dance, with the crowd, mainly mothers cheering on. 

 

Some teenage refugees expressed interest in developing their talent in music like Bobi Wine and displayed some dancing skills to the cheering crowd. 

 

Bobi said he feels sorry for the suffering children and mothers but hoped humanitarian agencies came in to give enough aid especially in the area of health and education.

 

The Save the Children country director, Barbara Borroughs who danced along to the amusement of the refugees, said the organization had initiated responses to the refugees’ plight in both Arua and Adjuman.

 

“We are soon starting a program in Kiryandongo too, where some of the refugees from South Sudan are being resettled. 

On top of that we have programs in all the refugee camps hosting refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo”, she said in a statement. 

 

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Borroughs also said in Nyumanzi, their response covers the provision of non-food items, child protection, early childhood education and basic health linked to early childhood education.

 

The purpose of the visit, according to Borroughs, was to let members of the National Newborn Steering Committee to be able to appreciate the situation of mothers, new-borns and children in such emergency settings.

 

She expressed optimism that the visit would enable them to map out ways of improving the conditions mothers and their children usually face. 

 

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“The government, in partnership with donors and international/national aid organizations, has done a commendable job in its endeavour to provide services for refugees in all parts of the country. But often maternal and child health are forgotten among the more pressing needs of food, shelter and safety.

 

Let us remember that an investment in women and children is an investment in the future,” Borroughs explained. 

 

Godfrey Byaruhanga, the settlement commandant said about 80,000 South Sudanese refugees, both registered and unregistered were being accommodated in Adjuman district with daily new arrivals.

 

He said Nyumanzi settlement that has over 22,000 needed more land for expansion and other services in both health and education.

 

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