Humanitarian Advocacy

UNCC Children
Jul 21
2 min read

Updated: Aug 4

To: UNHCR Uganda World Food Programme (WFP)Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) – Department of Refugees District Local Government – Terego & AruaAll Humanitarian Partners and Donor Agencies Faith-Based Organisations and Advocacy Networks

Dear Partners and Humanitarian Advocates,

It is with profound sorrow and grave concern that United Nationals Countryless Children (UNCC) writes to inform you of a tragic incident that has shaken the Imvepi refugee settlement in the West Nile region.

A young South Sudanese woman recently lost her life in an unregulated gold mining area, in a desperate attempt to secure food for her family. This heartbreaking event is a direct reflection of the increasing vulnerability of refugee households following recent food assistance cuts by UNHCR and WFP.

Her death is not an isolated incident—it is the face of a silent crisis unfolding in our communities. The burden of survival now forces women, elderly persons, and even children into unsafe and exploitative environments simply to meet their basic needs.

UNCC Field Assessment Report Submitted

Our organisation has conducted and submitted a field assessment report detailing the worsening humanitarian conditions within Imvepi and surrounding areas. The findings were shared with:

UNHCR
WFP
OPM
Other implementing partners

These reports confirm that many households now go days without food, and children are dropping out of school, while women and youth are increasingly exposed to dangerous and life-threatening work environments.

Our Call to Action – In Honour of the Lost and the Living

We respectfully call upon you, as partners in protection and humanitarian response, to:

Urgently review food assistance policies and restore or expand life-saving food and nutrition support, especially for women-headed and vulnerable households.
Strengthen inter-agency coordination to address emerging protection risks, including child labour and exploitation in informal mining.
Regulate and monitor mining activities near refugee settlements, ensuring that only trained individuals are permitted to engage in such work.
Support emergency livelihoods and dignity-based alternatives that prevent refugees from risking their lives for daily survival.
Recognise the dignity and humanity of all displaced people—especially countryless children and families who have no voice, and no safe place to turn.

Let This Be a Wake-Up Call

We grieve the loss of this woman not only as an individual, but as a symbol of countless others suffering silently. Her final act was a testament to the strength and sacrifice of refugee women—mothers who risk everything for their children.

We at UNCC stand with the people of Imvepi, and with all displaced communities. We urge our partners and the international donor community to respond to this call with urgency, compassion, and action.

In solidarity and service,

Nelson Kesi Operational Manager United Nationals Countryless Children (UNCC)

Arua Regional Office – Uganda

Approved by:Kevin NabbowaC ountry Director – UNCC Uganda