Suffering in Uganda

We are in Soroti, Uganda, working on a proposal for World Renew to assist subsistence farmers in the Teso region who have experienced significant crop failures during the last two harvests as a result of drought.  These households are facing significant food insecurity; sixty percent are eating only one meal or less per day.

After meetings with our local partners in Soroti, two development arms of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God, our first step was to assess the situation by making visits to a few villages. We were able to meet some of the affected people and their leaders, and to gather information from experienced field workers who are in close touch with the farmers in the area. Government studies confirm our findings. We have been in numerous discussions to explore options for providing the most appropriate assistance and thus determine the best way forward – what food items are culturally and nutritionally appropriate and affordable; how much food assistance should they receive and for how long; should we provide seed in anticipation of the next planting season; if so, what type and how much?  The biggest challenge is, with so many vulnerable people, who and how many people can we include? We are currently in the middle of all these discussions and have started to draft our proposal.

 

We went to a village and were introduced to a woman who was willing to talk to us about her life in this time of drought.  She gave her consent to share this story with others. Joyce Aduo, a farmer, depends on successful harvests to provide for her nine children, who range from one and a half to sixteen years of age. Her husband has left. From what we hear, it is not uncommon for a man to leave his family for another woman, and domestic abuse is an increasingly big problem as people face the hopeless challenge of feeding their families with no relief in sight. Harvests for Joyce were very poor last year. During the first growing season (July), she was only able to harvest very little and there was nothing at all to harvest in the second season (December).

The children were shy and sat quietly during the interview which was translated for us. It was eleven a.m. and they had not yet been able to eat that day.  We were told it is normal for them and many others to have some days with no food and other days with only one meal. Even a bit of porridge is considered a meal.  When we asked how this family acquired food, Joyce shared that sometimes a neighbor will share some of his or her meager rations. Occasionally her 16-year-old son, John, is hired by a local farmer for a few hours enabling them to buy a bit of food at a local market. Sadly, the food prices have escalated due to the shortage of produce and the high demand. None of Joyce’s children are able to attend school. We heard from her and others that it is too expensive to buy school supplies, uniforms and shoes, and in any case the children would not have the energy to walk to and from school. A local department of education employee said that enrollment in this area has dropped from 756 to 124 students since last year.

We wondered if the children knew any songs.  They were too shy to answer questions, let alone sing. Then Joyce quietly began to sing. A few of the neighbors nearby joined in. When I asked about the song, one English speaking resident explained that the song gave the message that in spite of all our difficulties we know God will always help us through.

We stand amazed at the faith of these people. How would we respond in a situation with no food available in our homes, no food growing in our fields, no money to buy food and, even if you had money, little food is available to buy in the local markets?

Please pray for these desperate people and for us as we discern the best way for World Renew to provide assistance.