5 - Coping with the Difficult Life in the Refugee Camp

Summary

How do refugees in Uganda’s Kyaka II cope with the violence, difficult camp conditions, and manifold uncertainties? This chapter explores the relationship between refugees’ coping strategies and the presenting issues, drawing on Lister’s agency theory. The first part revolves around practices to deal with risks of violence during conflict, flight, and encampment. It is argued that flight from violence during conflict represents a conscious decision rather than a passive reaction, and thus a protection strategy. Moreover, the role of voice and silence as well as mutual support, raising awareness in communities, and involvement in decision-making structures are explored as strategies consciously adopted to counter the prevalent risks faced during encampment. The second part addresses economic, social, political, and cultural practices to improve lives and livelihoods in the camp. This includes pursuing economic income by using or bypassing humanitarian regulations, creating normalcy and spheres of belonging despite multidimensional uncertainties, and consciously claiming rights. Hope for and belief in a better future is revealed not only to be a coping strategy but also a means of dealing with difficulties. This also includes belief in witchcraft as a way of making sense of problematic developments.