A group of refugees faced deep sadness when their hopes of moving to America fell through at the last minute.
The change came from an order by U.S. President Donald Trump, which stopped all work by the U.S. Agency for International Development, including help for refugees.
One man named Philosoph learned the news just one day before he planned to leave with his wife and ten others. He lives at the Tongogara Refugee Settlement in Zimbabwe with his six children. He came there from Rwanda in 2005 to escape problems with the government.
The U.S. State Department said it stopped taking in refugees. They did not say more about their plans.
The Tongogara camp helped many people move to America last year. Over 1,300 refugees found new homes there, and 887 more asked to go. The camp houses about 16,000 people who left their countries.
America took in more than 100,000 refugees in 2024, the highest number since 1994. Most came from African countries.
The change makes life harder at places like Tongogara camp, says Kudzai Mwapaura, who studies these issues. The camp tries to meet basic needs, but it faces many tests.
"I wanted better things for my children," Philosoph said. Before the news came, he gave away all his things, even his pig farm project. He must start fresh at the camp.
Life is hard for refugees in Zimbabwe. They cannot become citizens. The country lets them stay but does not give them a path to making it their home.
Another man, Chris, waited 14 years at the camp. He left the Democratic Republic of Congo because of war. "We need safe lives where we can help our families," he said.
The camp leader, Johanne Mhlanga, sees much pain. Some people sell what they have and say goodbye to friends. Then they learn they must stay.
Refugees depend on food aid from the World Food Programme, which comes every two months. Chris asks leaders to consider the people behind their choices.
"We are real people who need safe places to build new lives," he said.
The changes might last 90 days, but no one knows if things will return to normal after that.
The change came from an order by U.S. President Donald Trump, which stopped all work by the U.S. Agency for International Development, including help for refugees.
One man named Philosoph learned the news just one day before he planned to leave with his wife and ten others. He lives at the Tongogara Refugee Settlement in Zimbabwe with his six children. He came there from Rwanda in 2005 to escape problems with the government.
The U.S. State Department said it stopped taking in refugees. They did not say more about their plans.
The Tongogara camp helped many people move to America last year. Over 1,300 refugees found new homes there, and 887 more asked to go. The camp houses about 16,000 people who left their countries.
America took in more than 100,000 refugees in 2024, the highest number since 1994. Most came from African countries.
The change makes life harder at places like Tongogara camp, says Kudzai Mwapaura, who studies these issues. The camp tries to meet basic needs, but it faces many tests.
"I wanted better things for my children," Philosoph said. Before the news came, he gave away all his things, even his pig farm project. He must start fresh at the camp.
Life is hard for refugees in Zimbabwe. They cannot become citizens. The country lets them stay but does not give them a path to making it their home.
Another man, Chris, waited 14 years at the camp. He left the Democratic Republic of Congo because of war. "We need safe lives where we can help our families," he said.
The camp leader, Johanne Mhlanga, sees much pain. Some people sell what they have and say goodbye to friends. Then they learn they must stay.
Refugees depend on food aid from the World Food Programme, which comes every two months. Chris asks leaders to consider the people behind their choices.
"We are real people who need safe places to build new lives," he said.
The changes might last 90 days, but no one knows if things will return to normal after that.
