By Shelah Acker, CBF field personnel
*Oliver is a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He has been a part of Refuge and Hope for several years, even serving as a staff member teaching music. Oliver is the head of household to his six younger siblings, one of whom has a chronic medical condition, although he is only in his early 20s himself. Oliver and his siblings have been in the refugee resettlement process for years. They had finally received word that they were to be resettled in Houston, Texas.
They were told they would be sent to Nairobi, Kenya to await a flight to Houston. In excitement, Oliver gave away all their possessions to other refugees living in Kampala and gave up his small rental room in Kampala where they were living. His siblings’ scholarships for school were passed on to other refugee children. Oliver was so excited about beginning his new life in Texas and studying to become a pastor. His younger sister would now have access to medical treatment and the other siblings could go to school. Oliver and his siblings went to Nairobi along with hundreds of other Congolese to await a flight to the U.S. After several weeks of waiting, the news came to them that the door to resettlement in the U.S. had been closed. The refugee resettlement program was closed and no refugees from Congo would be accepted to the U.S. anymore. They were told to go back to Uganda.
Oliver and his siblings had nothing but the clothes on their backs when they returned to Kampala three months ago. They were homeless and were forced to sleep on the floor of a church that didn’t have walls. They were robbed of the few possessions they had, and his sister ended up in the hospital due to lack of treatment for her medical condition. Oliver’s younger siblings could no longer attend school since their scholarships had been given to other refugees.
Thanks to the generous gifts of a few people, Refuge and Hope was able to find Oliver a place to live and some mattresses for them to sleep on. He has been able to find a small part-time job teaching French at the Center of Hope. However, his dreams have been shattered. This is the new reality for refugees living in Uganda awaiting resettlement.
Hundreds have been turned away and sent back because the U.S. is no longer accepting refugees. We must ask ourselves what part we should play in this inhumane and cruel new reality. I am thankful to serve with CBF because it is an organization that is fighting for the dignity and care of refugees and migrants. Thank you for supporting CBF and for standing up for the vulnerable.
Please pray for Oliver and the hundreds of others in his situation.
You can learn more about the Acker’s and their ministry here.