S. Sudan refugees pour into northern Uganda
What you need to know:
Rising. The number of refugees registered has shot up since the war broke out early this month.
Kampala. More than 14,887 refugees have crossed into Uganda from South Sudan since July 7, when war broke out in Africa’s youngest country.
The highest number (7,225) of new arrivals was on July 18, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).
However, by press time, more refugees had poured into the country through the border posts and the number reached 26,000 refugees. “The numbers are overwhelming,” Mr Titus Jogo, the Adjumani Refugee Desk officer under the OPM, said on telephone yesterday.
By the end of next week, Mr Jogo said the number might increase to 50,000. Mr Jogo said at least 7,000 had been moved to Adjumani District by Wednesday and about 19,000 were still at Elegu.
According to UNHCR, majority of the refugees (90 per cent) who are women and children are crossing into Uganda through different border points such as Elegu in Adjumani, Oraba in Arua, Moyo, Lamwo and Kiryandongo.
In dire need of support are children some of whom, according to a statement, are malnourished and require education facilities to go to school.
“All under-fives among the new arrivals are being screened for malnutrition. UNICEF and its partner Concern Worldwide have provided additional two nutritionists to support UNHCR partner Medical Team International at Elegu border point to support the exercise,” Catherine Ntabadde Makumbi a communications specialist with Unicef Uganda said in a statement.
She said the Unicef has also delivered 2,300 cartons of therapeutic foods to Yumbe, Moyo and Arua to manage the children with severe acute malnutrition.
Other interventions, according to Ms Makumbi, include immunisation of all children crossing into the country against such diseases such as polio and measles. There is also drilling of boreholes and setting up temporary classrooms.
Earlier problem
Uganda grappled with a similar influx after thousands of South Sudanese fled the fighting broke out in their country in December, 2013.
Uganda People’s Defence Forces on Wednesday ended its mission to evacuate Ugandans trapped in the war torn country. Brigadier Kayanja Muhanga who led the mission said that nearly 20,000 Ugandans and people from other countries had been evacuated.
