Belgium Head of Humanitarian Aid, Laura Cogels visits Humanitarian Protection 1 implementing areas.
The Head of the Humanitarian Aid Unit at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Belgium, Ms. Laura Cogels visited the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS), Humanitarian Protection 1 ( (HP1) project implementing areas in South west and North west Uganda.
Ms. Cogels who was on a 5-day mission site visit to the pearl of Africa, started with Kyangwali Refugee Settlement where she was received by a team from URCS and Belgian Red Cross Flanders.
refugee settlement.
The team also paid a courtesy call to the Camp Commandant and the UNHCR camp leadership, before visiting the Humanitarian Protection (HP1) Project area which they directly support through the Uganda Red Cross Society.
The Human Protection (HP1) project focuses on the protection of communities thru Multi-Sectoral Assistance, with special attention to the most vulnerable affected humanitarian crises. URCS offers Multi- Purpose Cash Transfer to meet the immediate needs of the people.
Ms. Cogels participated in the distribution of the non-conditional cash to the refugees in Kyangwali refugee settlement. The Hp1 Project Manager, Paul Okot says “the funds are aimed at ensuring that households with PSNs meet their immediate basic needs which will in a long run enhance house hold livelihoods thus building resilience to future shocks and improve the enhancing self-sustenance.”
And this is achievable, “results from our Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM) indicate that by December 2022, about fifty eight percent of the beneficiary households who so far received just 5 out of the 8 planned cycles of cash assistance have already started to productively utilize the money and invested as start up capital for micro - enterprises; including small scale kiosks, piggery and goats rearing etc.” Okot added.
Bahat Wigingo a refugee from DRC, house hold size 9 , says he used the money he got to start up this piggery fam. Wigingo has so far received 1, 080, 000 shs UGX.
“ Even when this funding from Uganda Red Cross stops today I and my family can still survive. I already sold one of the pigs and used the money to buy maize whose demand is now high and I can sell at double the price I bought it, that way I am able to buy feeds for my pigs.” Wigingo noted.
*Beneficiary Selection Criteria:* The elderly, single mothers, child headed families, people living with disabilities and unaccompanied minors. HP1 project has so far supported 8,337 Persons with Special Needs ( PSNs) in Kyangwali and Imvepi refugee settlements specifically targeting basic needs and livelihoods of PSN households in Kyangwali, & Imvepi Refugee settlements who are facing social economic Vulnerabilities.
The team also visited Hoima Regional Referral Hospital. This is the center for Uganda Blood transfusion services in the region. Blood Donor Recruitment is another component supported by the Belgian Red Cross Flanders. Here, they were welcomed by the Uganda Blood Transfusion team leader, Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, Mr. Henry Benda
