REFUGEE CHILDREN IN RHINO CAMP SKIP SCHOOL FOR FUNERALS IN SEARCH OF FOOD

Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement (Courtesy)

By Martin Anguyo

Arua City

A silent tragedy is unfolding in Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement in Terego District, where hunger is increasingly forcing refugee children out of classrooms and into funeral gatherings in search of food. The practice, linked to reduced relief food rations following cuts in donor funding, is raising fresh concerns about the future of children’s education and protection in one of Uganda’s largest refugee-hosting communities.

The issue came into sharp focus during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Ofua Zone Two, where community leaders, local authorities and residents described a growing pattern of school-going children abandoning lessons whenever funerals are announced, hoping to secure a meal that many families can no longer provide at home.

One of the refugees living in the settlement, Dudu Celina, acknowledges that the practice has become increasingly common, saying persistent hunger has left many children with little choice but to seek food wherever it is available.

“But now ration is not there, like when you go to funerals, you see a lot of children in line going to receive food during the time of classes. And you find men blaming their wives of not giving food to their children when there is nothing this woman can cook” Celina said.

She explains that many families have exhausted the little they receive through humanitarian assistance, forcing children to seek food wherever it is available. According to her, funerals have become one of the few occasions where community members share meals freely, making them an attractive destination for hungry children.

The Female District Councilor for Uriama Sub-county, Agasiru Emily, says while the food situation remains challenging, parents and guardians must continue guiding and monitoring their children to keep them in school.

“If a family is left in the hands of children alone, definitely they will look for places where they can eat. I would advise parents to closely monitor their children and also work hard and tell children the value of education” Emily said.

She warns that every day a child misses school widens the education gap and increases the likelihood of permanent dropout. She further notes that without urgent intervention, the settlement risks raising a generation whose education has been sacrificed to hunger.

Her concerns are shared by Aberu Gladys, the Chairperson of the Women Council in Akinio Village, Akinio Parish, who says she has personally witnessed children abandoning school to attend funeral ceremonies in search of food.

” Once upon a time, a funeral occurred in our home and during the time of feeding, there were so many children in line and this has happened for several times and it’s because of poverty” said Gladys.

Aberu attributes the trend to worsening poverty among refugee households, saying many parents are unable to provide even one meal a day. She believes addressing food insecurity remains the only sustainable solution to keeping children in classrooms.

The unfolding situation reflects a broader humanitarian challenge facing refugee-hosting communities across Uganda. While the country continues to maintain one of the world’s most progressive refugee protection policies, humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned that available resources are no longer matching the growing needs of refugees.

As donor funding declines, food assistance has continued to shrink, leaving many vulnerable families struggling to survive. Education experts caution that hunger directly affects children’s concentration, attendance, and academic performance, making food insecurity not only a humanitarian concern but also an education crisis.

Without renewed investment in humanitarian assistance and livelihood support, community leaders fear that more children will be forced to choose between learning and survival—a decision no child should ever have to make.

According to the World Food Programme (WFP), funding shortages have led to repeated reductions in food assistance for refugees in Uganda, affecting hundreds of thousands of people who depend on humanitarian support.

Uganda currently hosts more than 1.8 million refugees and asylum seekers, making it the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa. Humanitarian agencies warn that unless additional funding is secured, food insecurity could continue to undermine children’s education, health, and protection across refugee settlements, including Rhino Camp.