Kenyan refugees in Uganda OCHA Situation Report No. 2

HIGHLIGHTS

- THERE ARE, ACCORDING TO URCS, 2905 AS OF 7 JANUARY, WHO HAVE CROSSED THE BORDER INTO UGANDA.

- ELECTION-RELATED VIOLENCE IN NEIGHBORING KENYA HAS PREVENTED THE DELIVERY OF FUEL SUPPLIES.

- IF THE PROBLEMS IN KENYA CONTINUE, UN OPERATIONS IN THE REGION ARE LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED.

The information contained in this report has been gathered by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) from sources including the Government of Uganda, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, media and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Situation Overview

1. Post-election violence has decreased in several districts of western Kenya, but displaced civilians have continued to trek across the border to seek refuge in Ugandan border towns.

2. The previous speculative figures have been firmed up by the Office of the Prime Minister. There are, according to URCS, 29051 Kenyans, as of 7 January, who have crossed the border into Uganda. Media reports of over 5000 refugees are not verified.

3. The refugees have spread amongst the host community and temporary reception centres established by District Authorities in the towns of Busia (Busia District) and Malaba (Tororo District).

4. The population at Malaba main reception center increased from 916 as of 4th January to 1,182 by 5 January (by 23 per cent). Similarly, at Busia had increased by 14% from 806 to 938. Lwakhaha confirmed its number was 231 people. As at 7 Janaury 35 percent increase in realised in Malaba and 47 ,percent in Busia since 4 January.

5. MSF Switzerland, in their assessment on 5 January, reports that the greatest need is in Lwakaka as there is currently lack of shelter, food, and water. In addition, medication supply is problematic.

6. According to World Vision team that visited Busia Kenya on 6 January, an estimated 400 IDPs are ,camped at the Police Post and shelter in parked vehicles on the Kenyan side of the boarder close to Uganda.

7. Fuel shortages have been reported throughout East Africa, as fuel destined for near by countries remain stuck in Kenyan ports. In Uganda, the crisis has also created fuel shortages causing a rise in price. Also, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on 4 January announced that all domestic flights had been cancelled because of a lack of fuel.

8. Kenya's opposition leader canceled on 7 January nationwide protests planned for 8 January, saying he wanted to avoid new violence and give mediation a chance to resolve the election dispute that has killed nearly 500 people in political and ethnic bloodletting.

9. Concerns have been expressed over the likely longterm impact of the Kenyan post-election stalemate on relief operations both in Uganda and in the region, as Kenya is a key transit route for all the supplies to refugees in the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC] and to Southern Sudan. The violence has blocked all food aid supplies to Uganda, Southern Sudan and DRC and if the problems in Kenya continue, UN operations in the region are likely to be affected.

10. Kikuyu make up for 75 per cent of the asylum seekers in Malaba main reception center according to URCS. Other tribes registered include; Dingo, Luya, Jalou, Iteso, Babukhusu, Turkana. The ethnic clashes in Kenya extend suspicion and distrust among the asylum seekers.

11. A joint UNHCR, URCS and OCHA field mission was carried out to Manafwa district on 6 January. Population is very mobile across the boarder.

Map: Kenya: Displacement and Humanitarian Response (as of 10 Jan 2008)

For more information, please contact:

Tim Pitt, Head of Office, OCHA-Uganda: +256 772 775511, pittt@un.org;

Katja Laurila, Associate Humanitarian Affairs Officer, OCHA-Uganda: +256 772 760023, laurilak@un.org,

Chris Hyslop, Desk Officer, OCHA-New York: +1 917 367 9457, hyslopc@un.org;

Stephanie Bunker, Public Information Officer, OCHANew York: +1 917 367 5126, +1 917 892 1679 (mobile), bunker@un.org;

Elisabeth Byrs, Public Information Officer, OCHA-Geneva: +41 22 917 2653, byrs@un.org.