A woman’s world for South Sudanese refugees

A four-hour drive west of Adjumani, across the River Nile, is Bidi Bidi. It’s now the largest refugee settlement in the world, housing more than 270,000 people since the recent influx which at times neared 3,000 arrivals per day.

Uganda’s progressive refugee policy means they’re all accepted, given a plot of land for a house and garden, and are free to work and travel. In return, the host community benefits with jobs, infrastructure and access to services, although the system is under immense strain.

When Action Against Hunger arrived last August, Bidi Bidi was a sea of white plastic UN tents, but refugees are gradually creating homes. Programme manager Joel Komakech says now the emergency is subsiding, refugees are taking leadership roles “to help rebuild their lives”.

“Undeniably, we see the women taking centre stage in that.”