* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Alert
Uganda
Assistance required to support and protect vulnerable refugees from the Congo
Geneva, 14 May 2013
1. Brief description of the emergency and impact
The conflict between rebel group M23 and the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that started in 2012 took a new twist in March 2013 when thousands of refugees fled from renewed fighting in the DRC to Kisoro district in western Uganda.
The refugees are hosted in various refugee settlement sites including Rwamwanja refugee settlement, in western Uganda. As of April 2013, the number of refugees rose from 20,000 to over 42,000 in less than three months putting tremendous pressure on the 41.9 square kilometre site. The refugees face numerous obstacles including:
• limited access to basic needs such as food, water, sanitation, shelter, and health care,
• lack of community services for persons with special needs (elderly, children, women and children),
• a rise in sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) and human rights violations,
• environmental degradation.
LWF/ACT Alliance is currently (April 2013) working with over 42,204 refugees (21,824 male and 20,380 female), majority (81%) of who are children under the age of 17 years.
2. Why is an ACT response needed?
It is estimated that the maximum carrying capacity (50,000 Refugees) in Rwamwanja settlement will be attained shortly. The current ACT Appeal (UGA121: July 2012-May 2013) is assisting 20,000 refugees with limited services including:
• water and sanitation
• 2,000 households with food security
• 10 villages with peace-building and conflict resolution
More resources are needed to address the urgent growing humanitarian need of this large population of vulnerable people.
3. National and international response
UNHCR and the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) have been the main actors in coordinating the response to the refugee crisis. Other agencies involved in the response include: Lutheran World Federation (LWF)/Act alliance, Windle Trust Uganda (WTU), Ugandan Red Cross (URC), African Initiative for Relief and Development (AIRD).
4. ACT Alliance response
In 2013, LWF/ACT alliance activities in Rwamwanja increased significantly at the request of OPM and UNHCR. LWF up scaled the implementation of activities in the following sectors: Protection Community services, Water/ Sanitation, Livelihoods, Environment and Reception Centre. It is clear that with current refugee influx the resources are overstretched and additional response is needed.
5. Planned activities
Upon consultations with the OPM and the UNHCR, LWF/ACT forum plans to support the general refugee population, the marginalized persons and those with special needs through livelihoods/environmental protection, SGBV/protection and other community services.
6. Constraints
The largest constraint for LWF/ACT operation is inadequate funding for an effective response to meet the urgent needs of the women, children and men who desperately need essential services.
Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jean-Daniel Birmele, Director of Finance (jbi@actalliance.org).
