For migratory kids, it will be a blue Christmas

Dec 19, 2016

As the Advent season comes to its peak, on December 25, many privileged children around the world will be chanting ‘joy to the world’.

By Simon Mone

It is now official! Uganda is in contention to be the most generous country in the world to refugees. Music to the ears of displaced people.

This comes against the background that Uganda has ousted Kenya, as host of the most refugees. Ethiopia remains the only State with a bigger number than Uganda. Take a look at recent statistics.

 At every break of day, Uganda is receiving about 2,500 new arrivals. They reach in groups of twos, threes, as families and as lost kids, separated from families. With only one aim, to re-start their lives all over again, seeking shelter, food, medicine and more peaceful life, as home is simply a no-habitat zone any longer.

So Uganda holds the boasting rights, as the most compassionate people to communities most disadvantaged and deprived of heavenly rights. At this particular season of the year, Christians should be making spiritual preparations to welcome the nativity of the chap who is to become our saviour.

 As the Advent season comes to its peak, on December 25, many privileged children around the world will be chanting ‘joy to the world'.

On the other hand, however, a certain group of kids do not have the chance to jump among the tune. They have a humanitarian priority to conjure.

Various dimensions of unrests around the world cannot allow them even pause to wish their loved ones a Merry Christmas. Unlike their more peaceful friends, these kids are paying the price for the sins committed by the elders.

So as the rest of the world's fortunate kids gather around the manger, for the unlucky, it is not a time to make merry. It is constant sad moment because every single day that passes without sighting of gun-wielding men and probably hearing the cracking sound of the latest bomb, is an abnormal day. And this has bestowed desperation upon them and robbed them of basic needs and peace.

According to estimates, 50 million children around the world are kids on the move (migratory kids).

That, of the 60 million refugees recorded in 2015 alone, over 30 million are kids. They come against different dimensions of; violence, abuse and exploitation, forced labour and recruitment into armed forces.

Being the most vulnerable victims of conflict, children are eligible candidates to become orphans and usually separated from their families. With basic needs robbed, livelihoods shattered, they are left to only think about survival first before anything else. So Christmas is too soon.

The kids are forced to mature very quickly. And assume adulthood as they struggle to find their feet and cope with trauma of conflict. In the end, they miss their childhood stages. So what can we do to cause beneficial impact to the innocent kids fleeing from conflict?

Is meaningful change being created to ensure that children around the world don't get on the receiving end of poor decisions of selfish leaders? This is a difficult one, given the limited funds to support kids on the move. But we can contribute to creating significant change and mitigate the effect of wars through continuously talking peace.

Respond swiftly to needs of displaced communities, so that kids of; Mosul, Juba and Aleppo can feel the love and togetherness of the world. Dedicate a part of the limited resources to implement programmes that are intent at providing welfare to children in conflict.

Commit to processes that put smiles on kids' faces. These processes should trickle to care-takers of kids so that the impact of assistance is ascertained. Humanitarian players must collaborate with their counterparts and local government installations and plan activities together.

And harmonise and report humanitarian events jointly. Kids on the move should feel the compassion. At the moment, priority is basic needs. They can't join their peers in rejoicing the birth of kid Jesus.

The writer is a civil engineer 


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