Mooving mountains

Melembe all beloved readers!

First I would like to explain the reason why we havent updated our blog as much as we intended it is because we simply dont have time. It is 11 pm now and we are exhausted. We promise though that we eventually will upload more beautiful pictures and write more about what is going on down here.

Today we spend half the day meeting important politicians, the town council and even the president of Uganda's representant in Manafwa. They all support our work and gave us their blessing.

After having a traditional lunch in the Lighthouse consisting of chapati ( pancake/bread), local chicken, rice, vegetables, ground nuts (tastier than peanuts) and pineapple, we took our van to a destination we never will forget.

About five months ago there was a land slide in the village Bududa, 4km from Bubulo. The village consists of a small centrum and houses located at the foot of a mountain. Since we were in the near area we thought we could go over to the village and see how people were living now almost half a year after the disaster. We did know that over 300 people died but not much more.

When we arrived we were surrounded by people and they welcomed us warmly, as always here. The people staying there were survived victims but also evacuated people from all over the area. Due to the risk and fear of a new land slide all people living in this area had to move to this particular camp. The camp was big like a couple of soccer fields with tents close together and a small medical center. The original plan was to keep the people in this camp for three months after the disaster and then relocate them to a new area with better shelter and treatment. Now five months have past and they are still in this camp.
Since this camp was intended to be temporary almost all aid organisations withdrew after three months, they did not plan for more. This has lead to the villagers of this camp now are starting to starve. The only food supply they get is maize flour and beans and the amounts are stunningly low. Today, over 8500 people are living together. This is the same amount of people as the city of Åmål in Sweden. The usual set-up was 8 families or about 36 people in each 20 square meter tent.

This is like any other tragic news for you. It is on television every day on any channel. Today we got the chance to shortly visit this refugee camp and talk to the inhabitants, be invited to their homes and listen to their stories. One thing we realized when we came home to our hotel was how silent it was at the camp sight. Over 8000 people and a pure silence.

We brought medical supplies to Uganda to give to a medical center in Bubulo, however the pople of this camp needed it soo much more. After leaving this small contribution to the ever thankful volounteers working at the sight we also got a receipt. We could not give much and did not stay long however people of the camp told us what we did do. We did meet with them, we did show up, we listened to them and laughed together and that gives them hope. They feel that they at least are not forgotten nor alone.

We just hope something can be done here soon..

*Pictures coming soon* Dont miss!!!!