I recently received this desperate cry for help from a dear friend who I have known for over eight years. It is my fervent hope that together we can somehow hit upon a long term solution that will enable him to support himself and his four daughters. Meanwhile I’m requesting your help to provide them with the bare essentials for the time being, namely food and accommodation. Here is their story.
I fled my country of origin in 2008 and was granted refugee status in Uganda the following year. I was then transferred to Kyangwali Refugee Camp where I have lived to this very day. All my 4 children were born here , with my first child being 16 and my youngest just 5. Back in 2009 when I first came to this camp, all refugees were receiving 100% of the food ration as the refugee population in the camp was only about 25.000. 10 years later (in 2019) my family and I were removed from both food and cash assistance because the population had grown to over 150.000 refugees, and priority was given to the new arrivals. Luckily, we were considered for resettlement the same year and were hoping to emigrate to another country, but all our hopes were shattered when Trump’s refugee resettlement ban of 2017 and subsequent slashing of the refugee admissions cap caused UNHCR to close thousands of resettlement cases. My family was among the thousands who were informed that we couldn’t go to any resettlement country.
In 2020, my half brother was murdered in cold blood, and in 2021 my brother was poisoned. Both had families, and as their only surviving relative here in the camp, I was expected to step up and look after families of my late brothers. I did whatever I could with the help of a very dear friend who prefers to remain anonymous. All this while, I was suffering from different illnesses, and was also a target of many people here who hated the fact that I am a social activist. These people included police officers and government workers, as well as their refugee friends.
In 2022, my family was once again presented with an opportunity to be resettled in Norway. This took so long that I eventually requested that they change the country for us. They sent our case to USA as a result. We went through all the necessary processes and were scheduled to travel early last year, but because my blood pressure was high, we were returned back to the camp. I could not be allowed to fly with high blood pressure. Again in November last year we were scheduled to travel to the United States, but my blood pressure stubbornly refused to go down despite medication. We stayed at the hotel for over a month in the hope that it would go down, but it never did. All this while we were having difficulty getting food and yet the doctors had recommended that I stick to a healthy diet which is rather expensive to maintain.
On January 21st this year after US president Donald Trump signed an Executive Order suspending the entire refugee resettlement program for 90 days, we were asked to leave the hotel and return to the refugee camp. My wife did not take the news well, so she left me and the children and went to stay with her friends who live in the city. We found shelter at a friend’s home who allowed us to stay for about a month. He helped us with transport back to the camp where we returned about a week ago. Because we were required to surrender our home to the government before we left the camp in November, we have been rendered homeless as our previous house was given to a new refugee family. Also, we are expected to fend for ourselves in as far as all the other basic needs are concerned.
Simply put, it’s a fresh start and we are on our own. This means we don’t have a home, any source of income and food to eat. This has not been easy for me as my daughters continue to fall sick due to starvation and malnutrition. They are also out of school.
If you are able to donate even the smallest amount to help us I and my daughters really would be beyond grateful.
For anyone wishing to donate to this project, please visit pay.rrym.uk, where you will find several payment options, including PayPal and Card services, or BACS bank transfer to our Charity Account.
As you know, in December we held a sponsored swim in Llandudno Swimming Pool as last year’s Christmas Charity event.
Although only three of us took up the challenge, we were encouraged to keep going by the enthusiasm of our sponsors.
Despite being so busy in the run up to Christmas, over eighty people were generous enough to sponsor us, which will make a huge difference to the displaced families this charity supports. Between them, they raised a grand total of £2,356, all of which will go to help people in need.
To read all about the charity’s work, please browse our website or follow us on Facebook refugeereliefynysmon.
We’d like to say a big thank you for your support, and to wish you all the best for the coming year.
Hi Everyone, we are launching an emergency fundraiser to enable a lovely Syrian couple now living in Turkey to purchase essential items in time for the birth of their baby son. Can you help by donating a little? Their little boy is due at the beginning of March so time is of the essence. I won’t go into detail regarding the difficulties and challenges faced by this couple over the past few months, suffice to say that the fact that they are still alive is a miracle in itself. We are aiming to raise the sum of £200. If you would please consider donating we would be most grateful. For anyone wishing to donate to this project, please visit pay.rrym.uk where you will find several payment options, including PayPal and Card services or BACS bank transfer to our Charity Account. Thank you so much for your support.
Here is the latest report written by our friend Nour in Lebanon, together with a lovely UPBEAT VIDEO which I’m sure you will enjoy. For anyone wishing to donate to this project, please visit PAY.RRYM.UK where you will find several payment options, including PayPal and Card services
or BACS bank transfer to our Charity Account. Thank you for any support you feel able to offer. It is greatly appreciated by so many.
Report on the Special Needs Class at Dar Al Amal
December: A Month of Joy and Challenges December was unlike any other month—it brought joy, hope, and celebration to all of us, and I’m sure to you as well. The fall of the regime in Syria filled the air with festivities in Arsal, as people rejoiced at this long-awaited change. However, alongside the joy came significant challenges. Many families went back to Syria to check their homes, only to find rubble and devastation. This brought feelings of uncertainty and grief, especially for the children who witnessed their families’ struggles.
At Dar Al Amal, we stood resilient. We continued to operate and provide care, support, and education, especially for the children in our special needs class, who need extra attention and stability in these uncertain times. Despite the challenges, we celebrated together and are determined to keep going for the sake of the children who will remain with us until summer.
In this challenging period, we focused on maintaining a stable and nurturing environment for the special needs class and all children of Dar Al amal school.
During the last month ,we adapted many Activities like sensory play, art, and music were incorporated to make learning more engaging and accessible.
Emotional Support: With families facing uncertainty, our team worked closely with the children to help them process their emotions and find comfort in routine and structure.
Celebrations and Joyful Moments: Despite the difficulties, we celebrated together, organizing small events and activities that brought smiles to the children’s faces. These moments of happiness helped the children feel secure and part of a larger community.
Preparation for the Future: We are committed to continuing this support until summer, focusing on building skills, confidence, and independence for each child. The challenges are immense, but so is our determination. The special needs class at Dar Al Amal is a testament to resilience and hope. We need your support to continue providing these children with the care, education, and love they need to thrive.
Please take a moment to visit Facebook REFUGEERELIEFYNYSMON where you can find a video showing the devastation one of my friends encountered when visiting their home in Syria. It’s a stark reminder of why we must keep going for these children.
Together, we can ensure a brighter future for the most vulnerable among us. Thank you for standing with us.
For those of you who were kind enough to donate towards Yusuf’s appeal, please take a look at this post and WATCH THE VIDEO from our friend Nour. Isn’t this What Christmas is really about folks? Or at least should be? thanks again to you for your generosity.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to supporting Yusuf and his family. The joy and pride in Yusuf’s eyes as he took on the responsibility of carrying the items and arranging them in their room will forever be etched in my memory. Standing tall in front of his family, he radiated a sense of accomplishment that was truly moving.
Your kindness did more than provide warmth in the bitter cold, where temperatures dropped below zero and their heater had run out of oil—it warmed their hearts. Your generosity gave them hope.
And there’s more to celebrate! Yusuf, along with his siblings, has been invited to join Dar Al Amal starting this Friday. This is the beginning of a new chapter for them, one filled with learning, growth, and opportunities.
Thank you for making this possible and for being the light in their darkest hours. Together, we are changing lives.
As many of you will know, throughout December we are holding sponsored swims in Llandudno Swimming Pool as this year’s Christmas Charity event.
Chris Copeman and I took up the challenge and each committed to swim 10km (400 lengths) of the pool. We split the swim over four sessions of a hundred length each. Monday and Friday (2nd & 6th) and Monday and Friday (9th & 13th). Although it was tough, we were encouraged to keep going by the generosity of our sponsors.
If you’re able to help, either by sponsoring us, or collecting a form and getting friends and family to sponsor you, then it’s not too late!
Sponsor Forms and Flyers are available from Llandudno Swimming Pool, or by Emailing info@rrym.uk. You can phone or message Barry: 07795468839 or Chris: 07968501192 for more information. I know we’re all so busy in the run up to Christmas, but your donation will make a huge difference to the displaced families this charity supports.
We’d like to say a big thank you to the following for their generosity: Steven, Betty, Karen, Alison, Christine, Arfan, Sarah & Jules, Colin, Sophie & Jamie, Heulwen, Carys, Jacqui, Pat, Tony, Keith, Moz & Shelley, Steffon, Carol, Barnett, Dawn, Deborah, Jim, Cher, Arwen, Barbara, Piers, Amy, Kate, Kay, Arthur, Ann, Jacob.
They have donated almost a thousand pounds, with more money pledged.
