Supporting South Sudanese people fleeing war

The current refugee crisis, explained

‍

Uganda hosts one of the world's largest refugee crisis, with over 1.3 million refugees having arrived since mid-2016. A significant portion of these refugees are women and children, many of whom are unaccompanied. This demographic shift has put immense pressure on Uganda’s resources, particularly in the areas of food and water security.

‍

Food insecurity, exacerbated by famine cycles in South Sudan, has had a profound impact on the refugees in Uganda. Every day, 2,000 people cross into Uganda, most from South Sudan, a country that was declared to be in a state of famine earlier this year. The new refugee settlements, especially along Uganda’s northern border, are struggling to keep pace with the demand for resources.

‍

Fighting famine with nutrition programs

Thanks to the generous financial support from a private investor in the United States, iAID (now known as SmartAID) has completed two critical emergency aid missions to support South Sudanese refugees in the Rhino Refugee Camp, located in Northern Uganda. The situation in the camp had reached a crisis point, particularly concerning the malnutrition of children.

‍

The food assistance program was carried out in two stages, August and October 2017, in response to the urgent need in the Rhino settlement, which is home to 102,000 refugees from South Sudan. The program was implemented upon the request of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and the Ugandan Prime Minister’s Office.

‍

Collaborating with governments to integrate tech into aid

‍

In response to these challenges, SmartAID has worked closely with the Ugandan Prime Minister’s Office to assess the needs of the camp and identify innovative technologies that can help. These include solutions for clean water, sustainable energy, and improved communication methods, like mobile charging stations.

‍

In addition to immediate aid, SmartAID is addressing long-term environmental and health challenges in refugee communities. Cooking over open fires with solid fuels, such as wood and charcoal, has devastating health and environmental consequences. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), millions of people in underprivileged populations die each year from the harmful effects of cooking with these fuels. To mitigate this, SmartAID is exploring bio-digester technology, which converts organic waste into biogas, offering a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to traditional cooking methods.

‍

By using innovative technology and collaboration, SmartAID is disrupting the cycle of poverty and improving the lives of refugees. With your support, we can continue to bring sustainable solutions to disaster-affected communities and change lives for the better.

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍