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The current influx of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Uganda has reduced. But the needs for the 67,000 refugees are still immense. Danish Refugee Council is on the ground and providing support to the refugees.
The total number of refugees arriving in Uganda from the fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo has stagnated at 67,000. The willing refugees are being received temporarily in a transit camp in Bundibugyo in the Bubukwanga settlement. There are about 18,000 in this transit camp at the moment. The rest of the refugees are still managing on their own outside these camps or are housed with relatives and friends waiting for the situation to become normal so that they can go back to their villages.
“We are on the ground and making assessments of existing and needed infrastructure and support for the refugees that are going to be settled in this settlement,” says Lilu Thapa, DRC Country Director in Uganda.
DRC has provided an emergency fund to support refugees in Bubukwanga. With this support DRC has provided 3,700 bars of soap, erected 2 bathing shelters, is constructing substructures and superstructures for the latrines, providing hygiene and sanitation training to the refugees, providing a technical person to monitor water quality in the transit camp, and providing support to people with special needs.
“Our team is still present on the ground and continues to support the refugees there. The numbers have stagnated but this does not mean that the situation is over for the refugees. They are still in need – and the situation is not over yet,” Lilu Thapa says.
The conflict situation in Congo is not yet settled and could become volatile in the near future. There are still fightings going on and risks of renewed fighting between M23 rebels and FARDC (Congolese National Army) in Goma in North Kivu. This could result in new influx of refugees to the South West Uganda.
DRC has been working in Uganda since 1999. In Uganda, DRC plays an important role within the provision of protection through presence and monitoring, advocacy on behalf of the population and helping the communities to rebuild their own support systems for helping the vulnerable.
