The Forgotten International

"I have 21 children and grandchildren. They all might be dead in a few weeks."

Janvier Ruhigira, a Congolese refugee on why his war-torn home is now the preferable alternative to living in Uganda's refugee camps.

"Instead of starving to death here, my kids would rather go back to the Congo and get killed by the rebels there. There is still war raging, we will probably all die, but at least it would be a quick death, and in our home. But we don't even have the means to leave."

A humanitarian crisis is on the horizon. We can still avert it.

We had been hired to make a short documentary for a non-profit operating in Kyaka II. The situation upon arrival was already bleak, with refugees living on rations that consisted of just $3 USD a month (for context, the cheapest bowl of rice in Kyaka was about $1.20). This was the case throughout Uganda, a country that hosts more refugees than the US, UK, France, and India combined, as the UNHCR had reduced and diverted its funds towards other conflict areas in the past.

Starvation rates climbed steadily. Until, one day, they began to skyrocket.

Five days into filming, instead of just reducing rations, the UNHCR cut tens of thousands of refugees across Uganda off completely.

No money. No food. Nothing.

In a land where there aren't jobs and the land is too infertile to farm, this means death.

They had reallocated these supplies and funding towards more visible conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, leaving the already-starving refugees of Uganda to fend for themselves.

However, while attention and donations continue to pour in for other headlined regions, they have dried up in Africa, despite nearly identical numbers of people being turned into refugees by war in both regions.

This is why so many now find themselves in Janvier's position. This is a man who witnessed ethnic cleansing in his home village. His cattle were shot, his house was burned down, he was almost executed. He's fully aware of what awaits him and his children upon his return, but he says it's the better option than staying at Kyaka.

Yet, he says he still hasn't given up hope.

"Pastor Godfrey is the only reason we've even made it this far"

The Solution

One local hero is doing what the UNHCR has not.

Pastor Godfrey Byaruhanga was raised in Kyaka II, and has dedicated his life to the betterment of its 150,000 residents. Under his umbrella organization, Angels Care, he has founded a school, a medical clinic, a church, and fuel program, a clean water initiative, and so much more, all within Kyaka's borders.

When his house isn't filled with refugees, it's filled with food, clothing, and supplies for them.

During COVID, while the UNHCR's had suspended their services, he drove a van distributing food and supplies across 80 square kilometers worth of starving people.

Every day through his initiatives, thousands of refugees are fed, educated, and treated, thriving where they otherwise would have perished.

Now, in wake of Kyaka's dire situation, Pastor Godfrey has developed plans for an Angels Care grain mill and an orphanage. The grain mill will process, sell, and store grains, thus providing employment for refugees, increasing food supplies, and generating sustainable income through sales to communities outside Kyaka. The orphanage will mean children who would otherwise starve on the streets would now be housed, fed, and educated.

These people have managed to live off $3/month for a long time. Now, they don't even have that. Your contribution, however great or small, will mean the difference between life and death for a refugee.

100% of donations will go to Angels Care through the Forgotten International.