Fresh violence in Congo increasing refugee influx in to Uganda

7,185 Congolese refugees have arrived in Uganda between 18/12/2017 and 12/01/2017, majority of them are women and children (60%). Hundreds continue to arrive in Uganda every day fleeing for their safety after fresh violence broke out in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

According to UNHCR, the UN Refugee, there is a sharp rise in the number of people from DRC seeking safety in Uganda as the daily arrival rate has increased from 82 between 31st December, 2017 and 4th January, 2018 to 329 between 5th and 9th of January, 2018.

New arrivals, point out inter-communal violence, rape, scorching of houses and people being attacked with machetes as reasons for fleeing DRC to Uganda.

Majority of the new arrivals are from North Kivu and Itori province. Many of them are entering Uganda aboard fishing boats on Lake Albert, some through Uganda’s western border points like; Nteko and Bunagana in Kisoro district; Ishasha, Kyeshero and Butogotoa in Kanungu and Hoima districts.   

New arrivals are being received and hosted by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and UNHCR at Kyaka II and Kyangwari settlements in Western Uganda. Other UN agencies like UNICEF, WFP and IOM; local partners and international humanitarian organizations are also supporting the process.

At Kyangwali and Kyaka II settlements, new arrivals are registered, medically screened, provided with hot meals and basic relief items. 

Identified needs 

New arrivals are in urgent need of access to clean water and sanitary facilities, psycho social support, shelter and special support for people with special needs.  Since children are the majority, temporary learning spaces are urgently needed for their education. 

Uganda currently hosts over 242,406 Congolese refugees, majority of the rest are hosted in Rwanda and Tanzania. Also, there are 4,1 million internally displaced Congolese, making DRC a country with the highest number of displaced people in Africa.

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