Seeds of Self-Sufficiency: Supporting Refugees at Bidi Bidi Settlement, South Sudan border
In late January 2025, Safe Haven for Refugees COO John Scott and several volunteers visited Bidi Bidi refugee settlement. Our team delivered 480 kilos of corn seeds and farming tools to Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees. This donation will enable the cultivation of 30 plus hectares of corn—a significant step toward self-sufficiency in a region where Uganda struggles to feed more than 1.7 million refugees amid dwindling international support.
Rather than providing temporary food relief, we're empowering refugees with the means to grow their own food. By supplying seeds that capitalize on the region's two annual planting seasons, refugees can establish sustainable food sources and livelihoods. Our donation included 173 fork hoes, tools that will serve families throughout their time at Bidi Bidi.
About Bidi Bidi
Established in 2016, Bidi Bidi is one of the world's largest refugee settlements, spanning approximately 250 square kilometers in northwest Uganda. Despite Uganda's progressive refugee policy allowing refugees to work and move freely, the settlement faces significant challenges:
Food security remains a major concern, with many dependent on humanitarian aid
Limited access to clean water, healthcare, and education
Additional pressure from new Sudanese refugees fleeing the conflict that erupted in Sudan in 2023
U.S. aid stoppage threatens to cause hunger and may force some families to risk returning to war zones
Through agricultural support, we're helping transform lives—moving beyond short-term aid to empower families as they build their futures in their new home.
