Some background info…

Hello all! Ojibu brought us some of your comments when he last uploaded in Kitgum and it is so great to hear from you and know that you are following this story. Keep them coming!

We realized that you do not know much about Padibe IDP camp, so in brief, here is some info: It is approximately 40 km south of the Sudan border and was once simply a trading post on the way to Sudan. With the war intensifying in 1996-1997, surrounding residents were forced to settle around the trading post for some semblance of security from the LRA. Instead of living in traditional homesteads, Acholi families were squeezed together with huts one right next to the other.

 

Some people returned to their homesteads in 1999, only to return once again to the camp in 2002 when fighting once again intensified. The population then swelled to some 40 000 people!!! Overcrowding, lack of basic necessities (water, food) due to an inability to leave the camp because of insecurity created dire health consequences. In 2005, the Ugandan health ministry estimated that some 1000 people per week were dying in the Northern camps due to the conditions. With a ceasefire in 2006, and an ability to leave the camp once again for access to food, the situation has greatly improved. Some people have returned home and the population is now at 25 000. However, with no peace treaty signed, and little assurance of continued security, much effort is needed to assure a proper and safe return.  I fear that this lull and return might mirror that which once happened in 1999. This is where you come in, please sign the petition linked in the blog so that camp life can finally cease to be a reality.

Even now, camp life is very difficult. Lack of privacy is disconcerting, and at times, for us anyways, pretty funny! Every morning, I saunter out of our hut, sleep in my eyes to brush my teeth + I am greeted by about 20 “Apwoyo Chos!” (Good Mornings!). Everything is public here and although it is amusing in our situation, I can only imagine the impact on traditional and family values.

 

Here is Andrea on her way to bathing. In addition to a children’s escort, she received a goat escort as well! Our bathing area is the black tarp structure in the left hand corner of the picture frame, located out in the open, amidst the huts. The ground is a hole filled with rocks (so the water can seep down) and there is a little shelf in the corner for our basin (pictured in Andrea’s hands- red!).

Our time here is very busy…between trying to learn to be good Acholi women, trying to survive and visiting everyone who wants to speak to us…our days are full!!

Yesterday, Grace visited us in the morning. She still lives in the camp because “a bad person” burned all the grass at her homestead, so she cannot return and build her huts. (We are trying to find out more about this…)We also met 3 older widows who cannot return because they do not have men to build the huts for them…and building huts is men’s work! Or Daniel, who has not left the camp because his homeland is far away and lacks a bore hole for water…

It is these stories that I am really interested in, and the quicker we are at learning survival basics, the more in depth stories we can relate about the problems in the camp and the problems with return. (we’re trying- it’s hard work!-survival is really taken for granted at home!!!)

On a totally wonderful and hopeful note, we attended a graduation party yesterday afternoon. Two girls had graduated from University in Kampala and a large part of the community showed up to pay them respect and to celebrate with them. I kept thinking how amazing it was that these girls were able to push through in a time of war and poverty and hunger, and achieve a higher education. I give them a ton of credit and wish them so well!!

 

o.k., we are off to visit some old friends who have left the camp. By the way, we met a man from MSF the other day and he confirmed that the Hepatitis E outbreak was abating- yay!

Speak to you soon, Lara