HIGHLIGHTS
- Some 10,470 Refugees crossed into Uganda fleeing the conflict in North Kivu
- Approximately 7,000 people are settled in 12 villages around Busabnza border point, Kisoro district, hosted by the local communities
-1,670 refugees entered through Ishasha border point in Kanungu disitrict. On their request, UNHCR transferred them to Nakivale refugee settlement, in Isingiro district
- In addition to the 1,670 refugees from Ishasha, Nakivale received 1,800 refugees coming directly from DRC since the beginning of August, bringing the total number of new arrivals in Nakivale to 3,470
Situation Overview
There are two main entry points for the Congolese refugees arriving in Uganda: Busanza, in Kisoro District, and Ishasha, in Kanungu District.
The approximately 7,000 refugees who are selfsettled along the DRC border in Kisoro originate from villages at walking distance from Uganda and seem to be reluctant to move to Nakivale refugee settlement (some 350 km from the border). The two main reasons are that they want to return to their homes as soon as the situation normalizes in DRC and that they want to be able to access their houses to check on their properties and get food supplies at least twice a week. The Government and other Humanitarian Organizations are concerned about inadequate apacity of existing health centres, food, water and sanitation facilities in the host community to meet the needs of the host community and of the growing number of Congolese refugees along the border.
The profile, condition and needs of the refugees coming across through Ishasha border point are very different. The 1,670 arrived in Ishasha approached the district authorities and the UNHCR team in Kanungu immediately upon arrival to ask to be relocated to Nakivale refugee settlement. In Nakivale, the Government of
Uganda, supported by UNHCR, provides free education and health services, clean water, shelter and a plot of land where the refugees can settle and cultivate food. WFP provides food to all the new arrivals and all the refugees who cannot provide for themselves. The refugees coming through Ishasha originate from villages in the area of Rutshuru and they have been d
Through Ishasha have been displaced for overtwo months within DRC. From their villages, they moved to IDP camps and, when these camps were attacked by rebel factions at the end of last week, they decided to move to Uganda.
The rate of the influx of refugees coming from DRC into Uganda has slightly decreased in the past three days. While between Wednesday 26th October and Tuesday 4th November, an average of 500 Congolese refugees crossed into Kanungu and Kisoro daily, since Wednesday the 5th of November, Uganda received only 120 new arrivals.
Reports from DRC indicate a population movement of internally displaced in DRC towards the areas bordering Bundibujo/Kasese districts. UNHCR is therefore in daily contact with border and district authorities in that area.