Uganda attends UN global refugee forum
Efforts. A refugee is served food at Palorinya refugee settlement in Moyo District in 2017. FILE PHOTO
What you need to know:
- The country will also pledge to promote access, quality and inclusiveness of national health services for refugees and host communities by implementing the Health Sector Integrated Refugee Response Plan and promote sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystems.
Uganda on Monday joined 150 other countries in Geneva, Switzerland, for the Global Refugee Forum that is aimed at improving response to refugee situations.
Mr Hilary Onek, the Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees is heading the 19-member Ugandan delegation.
The forum brings together refugees, heads of state, UN leaders, international institutions, development organisations, business leaders and civil society representatives, among others, at the United Nations office in Geneva.
Ms Duniya Aslam Khan, the head of communications at UNHCR Uganda office, said the aim of the forum is to generate new approaches and long-term commitments to help refugees and the host communities.
“Worldwide, more than 70 million people are displaced by war, conflict, and persecution. More than 25 million of them are refugees, having fled across international borders and unable to return to their homes,” Ms Khan said.
She said the Ugandan delegation will participate in several high level engagements to galvanise support for refugees and host communities.
Ms Khan said Uganda will present its pledge to continue its open door refugee policy and call for more support to sustain its progressive refugee policies. She said Uganda will pledge to continue including refugees in its national planning framework and implement the education response plan that is aimed at helping refugees.
Pledges
The country will also pledge to promote access, quality and inclusiveness of national health services for refugees and host communities by implementing the Health Sector Integrated Refugee Response Plan and promote sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystems.
She said five representatives of refugees from Uganda will also participate in sessions on refugee engagement during the Forum.
Background
With more than 1.3 million refugees, Uganda is the third largest refugee-hosting country in the world, and largest in Africa. Uganda’s progressive refugee management model includes providing refugees with land.
