Did you know that the continent has 20.2 million displaced people? With conflict and persecution having torn families apart and uprooted millions from their traditional homes and countries, a lot needs to be done to provide assistance to the refugees in Africa.
At the moment, Kenya is host to nearly half a million of these (489,239), 78% of whom are women and children while 57% are under 18 years of age with a majority of them lacking basic access to food, water, shelter, sanitation facilities, basic health care services and education.
In the wake of this, the UN Refugee Agency has launched a major funds drive for refugee support in Africa, in the wake of diminishing donor funds.
The LuQuLuQu campaign, which is scheduled to run in Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Nigeria, Cote d’ Ivoire and Senegal aims to inspire and transform the way the world views refugee issues.
The term LuQuLuQu is centered on the African philosophy of “Ubuntu” or “Ujamaa” that promotes the principles and values of shared responsibility, shared resources, and caring for one another, inherent to African culture and belief.
“We are seeking a home- grown solution to the ever increasing Africa refugee crisis. It is a call on Africans to take action to solve the continent’s worsening refugee crisis,” said Yvonne Ndege, UNHCR, Kenya Spokesperson.
“Despite the rising number of refugees across the continent, we have so far only received 35 percent of the critical funding required to assist refugees in Africa. UNHCR seeks to engage Kenyans and other Africans to partner in bringing solutions to the displaced in Africa,” Ndege added.
She said increased displacement crises across the world has led to a drop in earmarked funding for Africa.
Changing the narrative of the African Refugee
The LuQuLuQu campaign is a social movement that will seek to create a community of supporters. With a goal to change the narrative and conversation around the fate of the displaced in Africa, the aim is to demonstrate that Africans can play atransformative role in changing the lives of refugees and the uprooted.
The essence of the campaign is to engage ordinary citizens and corporate organizations to redefine the existing image of Africa’s displacement crisis, and co-create with the UN Refugee Agency, a new image of the African refugee – one of self-reliance, empowerment and inclusion into the mainstream.
How To Support LuQuLuQu
1. Share about LuQuLuQu in your social media circles to get your friends and family to join by visiting www.luquluqu.org/support-the-tribe
2. Sign up on www.luquluqu.org for regular updates on milestones achieved and social events about LuQuLuQu that you can participate in.
3. You can make donations through the online donation page donate.unhcr.org/luquluqu and PayBill number329378, account name LuQuLuQu.
No matter how small, your effort and contribution will go a long way in making LuQuLuQu realise success #DoItWithLuQuLuQu
