Refugee Coalition of East Africa

18/09/2026

RefCEA joins the LGBTQ+ community in South Sudan and Kenya in mourning. In recent days, we have lost three members of our community. Three lives. Three stories. Three people who belonged to us. They were part of a community that knows struggle too well, the displacement, the uncertainty, the constant precariousness of living openly as q***r refugees in Kakuma camp and later in South Sudan. They carried that weight, and they carried it with courage. We remember them. We remember their warmth, their resilience, the moments shared, and the quiet strength they gave to those around them. Their passing is a painful loss and a sobering reminder of how fragile life remains for LGBTQ+ refugees.
We grieve together. We remember together. Rest in peace. Your fight will not be forgotten.

15/09/2026

Data is not just numbers. For q***r refugees, it is the difference between surviving and thriving. At the recent RSRI Refugee Leadership & RLO Engagement TWG meeting, we joined RLOs and partners to explore how monitoring and evaluation tools can strengthen self-reliance. The Self-Reliance Index (SRI), presented by Ned Meerdink, offers a progressive way to track and support refugee self-reliance.

For LGBTQ+ refugees, self-reliance is not just about income. It is about safety, dignity, and the ability to build a life while waiting for resettlement. Better data means better support. Better support means q***r refugees are not left behind. The conversation continues in September. We will keep showing up

03/09/2026

https://youtu.be/1jMpTVNStjw?si=ZYd-sMnKk68vipN9
Important Update: Impact of New Business Crackdown on Q***r Refugees in Kenya 🇰🇪🏳️🌈

President Ruto has ordered a nationwide crackdown on foreign-owned small businesses starting Monday, alongside a pending Bill that seeks to legally reserve certain business sectors exclusively for Kenyan citizens. While the Refugees Act, 2021 grants refugees the right to work and run enterprises, this directive threatens to undermine that protection. For q***r refugees—who already face discrimination in formal employment, exclusion from mainstream aid, and severe funding gaps in community support—small businesses are not just income sources but lifelines. Many LGBTIQ refugee-led initiatives, such as salons, poultry farming, and phone-charging kiosks, are designed to foster self-reliance and sustainability, and losing market access could push these communities back into extreme vulnerability.

This crackdown risks reversing Kenya's regional leadership in refugee economic inclusion and contradicts the Global Compact on Refugees' emphasis on self-reliance. If implemented without exemptions or safeguards, it will deepen the precarity of q***r refugees who are already navigating housing insecurity, legal limbo, and social stigma. We must advocate for inclusive enforcement that protects refugee livelihoods and sustains the economic empowerment work that q***r communities have built against all odds. Now is the time to demand clarity, compassion, and fairness in policy implementation ***rRefugees 🌈

28/08/2026

28/08/2026

https://www.mambaonline.com/2026/08/27/study-identifies-gaps-between-gender-identity-and-the-healthcare-system/

A new South African study reveals major barriers to gender-affirming care, including cost, long waits, limited services and discrimination.

17/08/2026

https://web.facebook.com/watch/?v=2170860783489728

13/08/2026

The Ebola outbreak in the region is escalating, with 4400 confirmed cases and 2061 confirmed deaths reported across the DRC and Uganda according to ECDC. The Bundibugyo virus is spreading through conflict zones and overcrowded displacement camps, putting vulnerable populations, including LGBTQ+ refugees near the DRC border, in Nakivale settlement, and in South Sudan, at heightened risk. Meanwhile, resettlement has effectively been paused. Canada has suspended immigration documents for residents of DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan for 90 days, halting processing on approximately 36,000 permanent residence applications, including over 30,000 refugee and protected persons cases . Even previously approved visas are on hold . The U.S. has suspended entry for foreign nationals who have been in these countries within the previous 21 days .
Stay Vigilant
🔵Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.

🔴Avoid contact with blood, bodily fluids, or contaminated items.

🟠Report suspected cases to health authorities immediately—early detection saves lives.
Let's stay informed, stay safe, and look out for one another.

CNN

12/08/2026

Are basic needs in q***r refugee households being met? How are they being met? Is the current model sustainable? As part of the Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative(RSRI) Technical Working Group, we meet to discuss advancing the Self-Reliance Index (SRI)—a tool already used by 85 agencies worldwide to track and build refugee independence.
Why this matters right now: With nearly all resettlement suspended due to the Ebola outbreak, refugees are in limbo. Self-reliance isn't just a goal, it's a lifeline. For q***r refugees, this means:

✅Holistic support that goes beyond jobs to include safety, legal docs, and mental health

✅Building on existing community skills (tailoring, barber shops, poultry, electronics repair)

✅Real mid-term solutions while waiting for resettlement to resume

✅Explicit inclusion of LGBTIQ+ persons in economic programming

Even in crisis, dignity and independence matter.

12/08/2026

Just want to recognize the regional funders, governments, and the individual donors supporting LGBTQ+ refugee work across East Africa. Safe housing, mental health care, legal aid, dignity—none of it happens without that backing.
It's making a real difference. Grateful to see it.