UNHCR – the UN Refugee Agency has launched a major funds drive for refugee support in Africa, in the wake of diminishing donor funds.
The LuQuLuQu campaign is scheduled to run in Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Nigeria, Cote d’ Ivoire and Senegal. It is centered on the African philosophy of “Ubuntu” or “Ujamaa” that promotes the principles and values of shared responsibility, shared resources, and caring for one another, inherent to African culture and belief.
“We are seeking a home- grown solution to the ever increasing Africa refugee crisis. It is a call on Africans to take action to solve the continent’s worsening refugee crisis,” said Yvonne Ndege, UNHCR, Kenya Spokesperson.
The continent has 20.2 million displaced people. Kenya is host to nearly half a million of these (489,239), 78% of whom are women and children while 57% are under 18 years of age.
“Despite the rising number of refugees across the continent, we have so far only received 35 percent of the critical funding required to assist refugees in Africa. UNHCR seeks to engage Kenyans and other Africans to partner in bringing solutions to the displaced in Africa,” Ndege added.
She said increased displacement crises across the world has led to a drop in earmarked funding for Africa.
The LuQuLuQu campaign is a social movement that will seek to create a community of supporters.
With a goal to change the narrative and conversation around the fate of the displaced in Africa, the aim is to demonstrate that Africans can play a transformative role in changing the lives of refugees and the uprooted.
The essence of the LuQuLuQu campaign is to engage ordinary citizens and corporate organizations to redefine the existing image of Africa’s displacement crisis, and co-create with the UN Refugee Agency, a new image of the African refugee – one of self-reliance, empowerment and inclusion into the mainstream.
Donations can be made through the online donation page donate.unhcr.org/luquluqu and paybill number 329378, account name LuQuLuQu.
