Fix governance to address refugee crisis- PM Rugunda to world leaders

KAMPALA: Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda Monday urged world leaders to embrace a “holıstıc approach” in handling the escalating refugee crises, first, by tackling the issues of governance.
Dr Rugunda, speaking at the opening of the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Turkey, said countries must also strive to fight poverty and improve the quality of lives of the citizenry, and invest heavily in peace and securıty.

“In that way, we shall be able to leave no one behınd by treatıng the root causes, not just the symptoms,” he said.
The two day summit which ends Tuesday is an initiative first proposed by UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, in 2012 to ensure countries, organisations and relief workers come together with the objective of improving the global humanitarian system.
The summit is also aimed at initiating a set of concrete actions and commitments aimed at enabling countries and communities to better prepare for and respond to crises, and be resilient to shocks.

At the summit attended by delegates from at least 175 countries, Dr Rugunda, said Uganda has champion in underlining the refugee crisis, by embracing internally displaced persons (IDPs) from neighbouring countries, especially having gone through a turbulent past.
“Durıng our troubled history, a number of us found ourselves seeking refuge ın neıgbourıng countrıes and beyond. That experıence shaped our worldvıew to realıse that today, ıt ıs them, tomorrow, ıt could be anyone of us.”
He said In order to leave no one behind; government had Ministry responsible for IDPs and also enacted several policies for refugee management which have been mainstreamed into the national plans and budgetary allocations.

According to the UN refugee agency for refugees (UNHCR), an estimated 509,447 refugees are currently hosted in the country mainly from South Sudan, DR. Congo, Burundi, and Somalia.
Uganda is also the third country in the region to host a large refugee population behind Ethiopia and Kenya and in the ninth position worldwide. However, Kenya recently announced plans to close the Dadaab camp, in its North Eastern region, which is also the World’s largest refugee camp.

Speaking at the opening of the summit, Mr Ban Ki-moon said: "More people have been forced from their homes than at any time since the end of the Second World War.
"Every year the needs rise and the funding shortfalls grow."
The UN estimates there is a Shs49t ($15b) annual gap, as a result of humanitarian funds being pledged but not delivered.

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