The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund helps the world’s most susceptible all by the pandemic by companions simply like the UN Refugee agency. in a single South Sudan refugee camp, youths compose songs to enhance consciousness about COVID-19 prevention.
The pulsating sound of drumbeats pierces the air in Doro refugee camp, located in northeastern South Sudan. women, males, and youngsters dance inside the Jamhuri important school, in sync with the rhythm.
As visitors enter the gate, they’re serenaded with a track: “We, we, we’re all — we’re all blissful as we converse. Our visitors, we invite — we invite you to share with us.”
Volunteers direct the visitors useful-washing stations. an large banner with information on COVID-19 hangs in full view. As they line up, every particular person is instructed to face inside the course of circles marked on the underside, drawn 1 meter aside per World well being group (WHO) steerage firstly of the pandemic.
as quickly as they’ve accomplished washing their fingers, the visitors are directed to chairs, additionally unfold 1 meter aside. There are mats, too — additionally spaced out with the identical distance.
When all of the chairs and mats are full, the current kicks off.
With a harp resting in direction of his chest, 30-yr-outdated Yahya sways forwards and backwards as he leads a gaggle of youths singing in Jumjum, one among many native dialects. the important track is titled “Bonga,” written in honor of the Bonga mountain inside the Blue Nile — the area in Sudan that the refugees name residence. The refugees understand Bonga to be indestructible.
“we’re like Bonga. however after we do not shelter ourselves from coronavirus, it goes to say many lives. Coronavirus is form of a black cloud and heavy rain,” the group sings. “it is not going to spare anyone with out shelter. We ought to watch out. We should shield ourselves from this illness by avoiding handshaking and sustaining bodily distancing.”
The songs are an ingredient of a neighborhood mobilization session organized by the youth committee, which consists of representatives from the completely different tribes residing inside the camp.
As of October, there are not any confirmed circumstances of COVID-19 on the camp, however South Sudan has seen a quick enhance inside the quantity of these which have contracted the virus as a outcome of the pandemic was first reported inside the nation in April.
“Many humanitarian organizations talked to us regarding the mannequin new coronavirus. after we understood the gravity of the state of affairs, we sat down as a outcome of the youth committee and decided to start out this advertising and marketing campaign. as a outcome of the youth, we now have a process to play in bringing the neighborhood collectively and mobilizing them,” acknowledged 25-yr-outdated Thomas, chairperson of the youth committee.
He presents: “We sing in native languages as a outcome of simply a few of our people do not understand English or Arabic. Songs appeal to people, and after they take heed to what we’re saying, they discover it has a deeper which means.”
up to now, the group has composed eight songs in native dialects spoken throughout the sprawling Doro camp, which hosts better than sixty three,000 people representing about three dozen tribes. As they transfer from one location to a particular, the musicians change their language to match what’s spoken.
“after we’re finished reaching out to refugees, we’re going to start out sensitizing the host neighborhood. we’re one with them. We play sports activities collectively and store on the identical places,” acknowledged Thomas.
In South Sudan, the place the COVID-19 outbreak represents one extra problem that risks overshadowing the preexisting humanitarian wants of basically the most susceptible people, the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund contribution is essential. as a outcome of of this funding, UN Refugee agency (UNHCR) actions in response to the current state of affairs are strengthened, collectively with well being assist in clinics and hospitals in a quantity of refugee internet hosting areas of the nation, which the host neighborhood may even entry.
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every movement counts inside the fight in direction of COVID-19. By supporting the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, you may assist continued efforts to fight the coronavirus and shield the lives of refugees world large. The Fund is the quickest and easiest means for people, firms, and organizations to assist the work of the World well being group and its companions in battling the virus.
This piece was supplied by UNHCR’s Mary-Sanyu Osire and has been edited and revealed with permission.