Responding to Uganda's refugee crisis - Situation Report #16

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Wednesday, November 8, 2017

World Vision continues to respond to the refugee crisis in northern Uganda, where more than one million people have crossed into the country since 2013. 

With its ongoing response, World Vision is drawing attention to: 

  • Refugees continue to arrive: According to the Government of Uganda and UNHCR inter-agency reports, there are 1,355,764 refugees and asylum seekers in Uganda. 1,021,903 are South Sudanese, 225,755 from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), 37,349 from Burundi, 34,963 Somalis and 35,794 are refugees from other countries. Refugees in Uganda are hosted in 12 different districts. As of October 2017, an average of 650+ refugees from South Sudan are crossing into Uganda daily, escaping conflict, fighting and famine. The current heavy rains have made most access routes to Uganda impassable making it hard for majority of refugees to flee.  

  •  Plight of People Living With Disabilities: Living conditions for people with disabilities (PWDs) have worsened because of displacement. The traditional family networks and social support systems, which they depended on in their natural environments back home, are destroyed or ineffective.
    Agencies need to holistically integrate PWD’s in all streams of programming by making sure construction is accessible, assistive devices are provided and PWD’s are empowered with skills and tools to start up income generating activities.
  •  Children’s crisis: 63 per cent of all new arrivals are below the age of 18. Many children have witnessed violence in their homelands and the conflict they are escaping is forcing many to arrive without the accompaniment of an adult. To help children adjust to life in Uganda, community based child protection systems and safety structures needs to be strengthened.
  •  Refugee foster families need additional support: The foster families that compassionately take care of unaccompanied and separated children need further assistance to ensure they can adequately take care of the children they look after. There is a need for families to have access to cash grants and economic development skills.
     

Details about World Vision's response are available by downloading the Situation Report