The European Union, in partnership with the International Organisation for Migration and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), signed an $18 million regional program project to support refugees and returnees who fled violence in Sudan.

The regional programme funded by the European Union aims at supporting Chad, Ethiopia and South Sudan due to the influx of refugees in their territories.  

Addressing the media on Monday, the European Union Ambassador to South Sudan, Timo Olkkonen, said the conflict in Sudan has triggered unceasing suffering, prompting people to flee their homes for safety in the neighbouring countries.

“On behalf of the EU, I am proud to be here today to sign this important agreement with UNHCR and IOM. The regional programme covers Chad, Ethiopia, and South Sudan and provides 17 million EUR to support these countries in welcoming people forced to flee because of the war in Sudan. The conflict is causing unspeakable suffering to the people in Sudan, but it is equally taking its toll on neighbouring countries in multiple ways,” Olkkonen said. 

“Economies are very much interconnected, above all in the border areas, and the economic impact has so far been rather severe. South Sudan, as we all know, is economically interdependent with Sudan and the protracted conflict increases economic risks,” he added.

He said the funding would provide concrete support to the countries hosting the refugees.

“The war in Sudan is taking its toll on South Sudan and other neighbouring countries alike. This new funding reaffirms the EU’s willingness to provide tangible support to host countries. Through this regional programme, the EU intends to be forward-looking and ambitious in its response to the displacement crisis, complementing lifesaving humanitarian interventions with early-on, longer-term development support,” Olkkonen added. 

He noted that the programme aids in integrating the returnees and will revamp their living setbacks.

“The programme aims at including refugees and returnees in service delivery systems while improving their livelihoods and ensuring peaceful coexistence with host communities, in synergy with other EU-funded initiatives on forced displacement. It will improve the living conditions of those forced to flee and, at the same time, contribute to security and stability in the region,” he stressed.

However, Marie Helene, the UNHCR representative, underscored the enormous role played by South Sudan in hosting refugees, adding that humanitarian action is not sufficient to address the refugees-returnees’ needs.

“South Sudan has always been a generous host to refugees and is keeping its doors open to those fleeing the conflict in Sudan. This contribution is a demonstration of solidarity with South Sudan and the communities that are now hosting refugees and returnees,” she stated.

“Humanitarian action alone is not enough to address the enormous needs; early engagement of development partners such as the EU is welcome and needed to help people rebuild their life and restore their dignity and self-reliance,” Helene emphasised. 

According to her, the funding will be used to provide livelihood support, particularly to youth and women including training on financial literacy, and entrepreneurship, as well as support to access funds to set up businesses. Farmers will also receive climate-resilient seeds, as well as training on topics such as food processing and conservation, business management, marketing and commercialization.

Meanwhile, John McCue, IOM South Sudan Chief of Mission, stressed that the programme is an appropriate step in the humanitarian-development and peace-building processes.

“This funding, received at the start of the emergency, is a good example of the humanitarian, development and peace nexus and provides the displaced population with direct support to restart their lives more sustainably,” he said.

The war which broke out on 15, April 2023, has triggered a massive displacement, forcing 1.3 million refugees, returnees, and asylum seekers to flee Sudan into the neighbouring countries. By Matik Kueth, City Review

The church must double its efforts of restoring accepted moral standards that would preserve the country from the current global high levels of decadence, President Yoweri Museveni has said. 

The president is optimistic that if religious leaders jointly rekindle their efforts in fostering stronger and responsible family institutions, it will save the country from the bigger threats and repercussions of moral degeneration.  

In his speech delivered by the state minister of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives David Bahati, during the consecration of Rev Joseph Tumwebaze as the South Buganda regional overseer of Pentecostal churches in Masaka, Museveni observed that the church is equally under serious threat by the changing global dynamics that are causing a decline in moral standards.  

He called upon the leaders of the Pentecostal church to rise to the task of mobilizing their followers to revive and stick to the original values of their faith, which among others include self-reliance, as a way of safeguarding society from unacceptable habits. 

"I'm privileged to have been born and nurtured during the peak of the Balokole movement. Revival Balokole families were among the first to educate children who later became instrumental in social, economic and political development of the region. Regrettably, the revival fires are not burning vigorously as today as they were burning in the past. There is need for revival and renewal of these flames in our churches and societies today.

The church is facing erosion of moral standards. The church is a very important conduit for attitude change towards development. We count on you to sensitise and teach our people the value of self-reliance and honesty. That is the only way in which we shall preserve our nation from these attitudes from the current moral decadence," said Museveni.

Besides performing their religious responsibilities of evangelization, Museveni also called upon the leadership of Pentecostal churches to work out programs that can enhance the livelihoods of their followers.

He challenged the leaders to stop the mentality of relying on followers for the sustainability of the church, arguing it can no longer support the growth of the institutions, hence the need to initiate income-generating projects at institutional levels.

"Gone are the days when the church was dependent on the folk. The current times, the church works hand in hand with folk to better its service and the livelihood of the people it leads. Let all religious leaders embrace this ethic to develop the communities in which they live. We have to work together to eradicate poverty, to combat disease, to fight corruption, and provide the current with a moral compass. Our society looks at you with that endeavor.

Uganda's economy has been transformed, a foundation has been built with the opening up of more manufacturing movements. Therefore, I advise the church to develop more economic-related projects that will support the leaders and church activities," added Museveni.

After his inauguration for a term of five years, pastor Tumwebaze noted that has developed a five-year strategic development plan he intends to share with colleagues to steer both spiritual and economic transformation of the region he was trusted with as the overseer.  

As part of the strategic plan, Tumwebaze launched a regional savings and cooperative society of all Born-again Pentecostal Churches in the area, which he says is intended to generate affordable capital for both the church and its followers. 

Moses Odongo, the national leader of the National Fellowship of Born-Again Pentecostal Churches of Uganda (NFBPC), noted they are committed to closely working with the government in transforming the lives of their congregation. President Museveni contributed Shs 50 million to the Sacco as seed capital. By URN/ The Observer

Four Kenyan athletes on Monday night led by Faith Kipyegon scooped four awards during the World Athletics of the Year gala

Kipyegon was named the Female World Athlete of the Year in track events while marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum was named the Male World Athlete of the Year out of stadia.

Kipyegon set world records at an incredible three distances during a season in which she also achieved a golden double at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23. 

First, the 29-year-old Kenyan improved the world 1500m record to 3:49.11 in Florence, taking almost a full second off the previous mark.

Just one week later, and despite having raced the 5000m just twice before, she improved the world record for that event, too, clocking 14:05.20 in Paris to shave 1.42 seconds from the old record.

Her third world record came in Monaco, where she smashed the previous mile mark by five seconds, clocking 4:07.64. Then, in Budapest, she won her third senior world 1500m title and her first world 5000m crown.

Kiptum also achieved his world record in a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, running 2:00:35 at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in October. Becoming the first athlete to break 2:01 in a record-eligible marathon, the 24-year-old Kenyan won the race by almost three and a half minutes and took 34 seconds off Eliud Kipchoge’s previous world record.

Just one year on from his marathon debut, Kiptum now has three of the seven fastest times in history to his name having also won the TCS London Marathon in April in 2:01:25. 

The world champions and world record-breakers were the final winners to be revealed as part of the World Athletics Awards 2023 on Monday (11), following confirmation of this year’s Rising Stars: world 3000m steeplechase bronze medallist Faith Cherotich and world 800m silver medallist Emmanuel Wanyonyi.

The adaptation of the World Athlete of the Year honours awarded this year follows feedback received during the voting process. Many sensational performances – including an extraordinary 23 world records – were achieved in 2023.

When it came to compiling the votes, athletes, fans and World Athletics Family members commented that it was incredibly hard to limit the vote to just one athlete, because of the various disciplines and the vast differences in skill sets required.

As a result, for 2023 the World Athlete of the Year awards have been divided into three event categories: track, field and out of stadia.

World Athletes of the Year for 2023

Women’s track: Faith Kipyegon, KEN, 1500m/mile/5000m

Women’s field: Yulimar Rojas, VEN, triple jump

Women’s out of stadia: Tigist Assefa, ETH, marathon

Men’s track: Noah Lyles, USA, 100m/200m

Men’s field: Mondo Duplantis, SWE, pole vault

Men’s out of stadia: Kelvin Kiptum, KEN, marathon By Washington Onyango, The Standard

Succession star Brian Cox and television presenter Gary Lineker are among high-profile signatories to a letter calling for the Government to scrap its Rwanda scheme and for political leaders to come up with a “fair new plan for refugees”.

They branded Britain’s refugee system “ever-more uncaring, chaotic and costly”, and said asylum policies are not working. 

The correspondence, also signed by women’s rights campaigner Helen Pankhurst, Hotel Rwanda star Sophie Okonedo and television chef Big Zuu, who is the son of a refugee from Sierra Leone, comes in the week MPs will debate and vote on the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill.

The Government hopes to rush emergency legislation through Parliament declaring Rwanda a safe destination for asylum seekers, after the Supreme Court last month ruled against the scheme.

The letter, co-ordinated by campaign coalition Together With Refugees, stated: “Our Government is still trying to banish people fleeing persecution to Rwanda despite the highest court in the land ruling the scheme unlawful.

“Tens of thousands of people are stuck in limbo waiting for their refugee protection to be processed, separated from their families and barred from working.

“These policies aren’t working for refugees and they aren’t working for local communities.

“That’s why we have come together to say we’ve had enough. Enough of the division. Enough of the short-term thinking. Enough of the wasted human potential. And it’s why we now call for something better.”

Signatories said they are “calling on you, our political leaders of all parties, to commit to a fair new plan for refugees” which includes upholding the UK’s commitment under international law to the right to claim asylum and scrapping the Rwanda scheme.

The letter, marking the launch of the coalition’s Fair Begins Here campaign, also urged a “proper strategy for welcoming and integrating refugees” through “fair, rapid decisions on their application for asylum” and stronger global co-operation “to tackle the root causes that force people to flee their homes and provides positive solutions when they do, including through safe routes to refugee protection”. 

Together With Refugees said polling has shown less than a fifth (18%) of people think the Government’s approach to the asylum system is working well, rising to just over a quarter (28%) of respondents who intend to vote Conservative at the next election.

Overall, 83% of the 1,014 adult respondents to the Focaldata polling from last week said they want an asylum system that is well managed, fair and compassionate.

Former England footballer Lineker, who has been outspoken on the issue of the Government’s attitude to refugees, said: “We need a new system that reflects the will of the British people who have opened their homes, donated and volunteered in their local communities.

“That’s why I’m backing this new campaign – because fair really can begin here.”

Another signatory, former head of the British Army Lord Dannatt, said the “dogged pursuit of the unpopular plan to send people seeking protection to Rwanda is astonishing” and described a “failure to fully support Afghans fleeing the Taliban” as “shameful”. 

Big Zuu said his personal experience makes the issue especially important to him.

He said: “I know what it’s like to be a child in the asylum system in the UK.  Me and my mum had some good support when we were first here, but it wasn’t easy.

“I know it’s even tougher today, being a refugee in this country now is almost impossible. But it doesn’t have to be like this.

“Being part of this campaign is so important to me and many of the people I grew up with. We experienced the reality and we know politicians can do better.” By Aine Fox ,Evening Standard