Uganda is currently witnessing a surge in refugee arrivals, with more than 4,000 South Sudan refugees entering the country ‘each day of the week,’ that’s according to UN refugee agency, UNHCR. 

The latest UNHCR emergency update indicates that 24,117 people crossed into Uganda in the last week, compared to 13,878 from the previous seven days (see link http://data.unhcr.org/SouthSudan/regional.php).

The daily influx of 4,000 was recorded at collection points in Elegu, Moyo, Lamwo, Kuluba/Oraba and Kiryandongo. 

“The new arrivals are mostly pouring in through the Oraba border point,” said Solomon Osakana, the Refugee Desk Officer in Uganda’s northern Arua district, explaining that the refugees are fleeing a combination of insecurity and social factors.

“Some time ago there was fighting in Lainya and Yei,” he explained, adding that “a large number of the fleeing population are also in search of food and schools for their children.”

Osakana says Ugandan authorities in collaboration with humanitarian partners are stepping up service provision in the different settlement areas in Adjumani, Arua, Kiryandongo, Moyo and Bidibidi – Yumbe.

“We have expanded the settlement areas and have acquired more busses to shuttle the refugees to the different sites,” he explains.  “Furthermore three health centres have been set up in the Bidi-bidi camp where new arrivals are being settled, to decongest the other sites.”

Additionally, the refugees are being provided with boreholes for clean drinking water and roads are being opened up to allow free access to the different locations. 

The emergency update elaborates that partners are also conducting mass nutrition screening, while women’s groups among the communities are being trained in Sexual Gender Based Violence prevention and psychological first aid. 

Despite the growing pressures, the refugees have been welcomed by the host communities.   Osakana says the locals have willingly given up their land and are co-existing peacefully. 

“The host communities do not complain, all they want is for us to set up latrines and other sanitation facilities,” he said. 

UNHCR has activated its “worst case contingency scenario,” in the expectation that another 100,000 additional refugees may arrive until the end of the year. 

The total number of South Sudanese refugees, who have entered Uganda since the conflict broke out in December 2013, stands at 335,581, with an estimated 128,888 arriving after the recent fighting in July, according to UNHCR.