School for Somali Refugees in Ethiopia

Fr Dominik Markl SJ is a Jesuit from Austria who is currently living and studying in London.  At present, he is in Kenya and sent us this report about the work of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) in Eastern Africa.

'Children, everywhere children! It is heart-breaking to see all these children, who have nothing to do.  In the desert of rocks, there is no shade, no tree, just dry thorny bushes, they sit in their tents, many of them suffering from severe malnutrition.  They smile at us, they greet us with big open eyes.' Father Frido Pflueger SJ, director of the Jesuit Refugee Service for Eastern Africa, tells about his first visit in the refugee camps in the south-east of Ethiopia last week.  About 120,000 people from Somalia are living in four camps now; more than three quarters of them are children and youngsters below 18 years; 75,000 have arrived since the beginning of this year from the drought regions.

'I have seen many refugee camps, but this belongs to the worst, which I have ever experienced.  NGOs (Non-Government Organisations) are providing food and shelter for the refugees.  Yet, we need to do something for these young people.  We want to set up a school as soon as possible.  Within three weeks we will send our first team to start construction.  Starting from the school we will develop our further activities.  As the situation in Somalia is not likely to change soon, we need to plan for years to come.  As JRS it is our duty to serve the poorest of the poor; and we have met them in these camps.  JRS needs urgently your support to realise these projects.  We must begin now.'

While Fr Pflueger was in Ethiopia, I could convince myself about the great work JRS has been doing in Kakuma.  This camp in the north-west of Kenya started in 1992 for refugees from the Sudan, amongst them the 'Lost Boys'.  Today more than 80,000 refugees are living there; more than 50% of them are Somalis.  While the UN refugee service (UNHCR) provide for the basic needs, JRS is mainly working for education and emotional healing.  Many of the refugees have experienced murder and rape.  By training refugees as counsellors, this service reaches thousands every year.  In this way, many small miracles are happening.  Hezekiah Ombiro, the Kenyan project director, proudly tells us about the man who was traumatised and had been walking through the streets naked and confused.  After having spoken about his experiences with JRS counsellors, he is now able again to provide for his family.

In the premises of 'Safe Haven', JRS houses particularly endangered women and girls, who have suffered rape or are threatened to be forced to early marriage.  JRS is working with an international team of twelve people, including three Jesuits; hundreds of further staff are helping refugees living in the camp.

You will find more information at www.jrsea.org (link below).
Or to make a donation for the school building programme, contact Jesuit Missions (JM) in London:
director@jesuitmissions.org.uk or visit their web site: www.jesuitmissions.org


 JRS East Africa

 Jesuit Missions