Staff Reporter
The Commissioner for Refugees in the Office of the Prime Minister, Peter Okello, has expressed gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for prioritizing food support for refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo residing in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Isingiro District.
Okello conveyed his appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia while representing the Minister of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Management, and Refugees at the official handover ceremony of 342 tonnes of relief food, comprising 12,700 food boxes valued at USD 500,000, at Rubindi Zone in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Bukanga, Isingiro District, Southwest Uganda.
The event was attended by Zainab Jafri, the Protection Officer at the UNHCR Sub-Office in Mbarara, and Abdulrahman Alzaben, the Project Manager for the Food Assistance Project for Refugees in Uganda.
Okello highlighted that the lives of refugees are protected under the United Nations Convention of 1951, which ensures their right to food. He emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s decision to support refugees with food is crucial for their well-being, and the Ugandan government, which hosts these refugees, is deeply appreciative of this generous contribution. He also called for further support for the refugees.
Okello urged the refugees to use the donated food for its intended purpose, stressing that the food is not for sale but is meant to support vulnerable individuals in their communities. He warned that anyone found selling the food would face consequences.
He also expressed the Ugandan government’s appreciation for the strong relationship between Uganda and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has invested in various programs and projects in Uganda, including those in education, water and sanitation, and environmental conservation.
Finally, Okello called on governments in the region to work towards improving conditions in refugees’ countries of origin, enabling them to voluntarily repatriate and thereby helping to decongest the refugee camps.
