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Uganda: Emergency Update on the South Sudan Refugee Situation - Inter-Agency Weekly | 19th – 25th July 2017

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HIGHLIGHTS

  • 4,142 South Sudanese refugees arrived in Uganda between the 5th and 18th of July at an average daily rate of 591. The number of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda now stands at 994,903 and is expected to reach one million within the next few weeks if current arrival rate continues.

  • Those crossing the border report that the security situation in South Sudan continues to deteriorate, with ethnically motivated attacks, prolonged violent conflict and forcible recruitment of young people by armed groups as reasons for fleeing to Uganda. Many of the women and girls among the new arrivals report being survivors of rape.

  • In preparation for the opening of the Rhino Camp Extension in early August, 30 kilometres of roads have been cleared in Omugo, the site of the extension, with a further 12 kilometres graded; Omugo reception centre has been completed and 20 shelters have been constructed in readiness for the arrival of particularly vulnerable refugees with specific needs.

  • In Arua, heavy rains and flash floods washed away and damaged roads and culverts in the settlements. This continued to adversely affect virtually all services including food and relief item distributions; water and health service delivery and access to schools. There is an urgent need to repair and improve the road network and the drainage system.

  • In response to the harsh weather conditions adversely affecting refugees in low-lying areas prone to flooding, plans are underway to assess new sites for their relocation to higher ground.