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Crisis Severity0 Very lowVery high 5
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Impact0 Very lowVery high 5
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Humanitarian Conditions0 Very lowVery high 5
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Complexity0 Very lowVery high 5
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Access ConstraintsNo constraintsExtreme constraints
Key figures
Overview
18/06/2019
Uganda hosts over 1.28 million refugees and asylum seekers, the majority from South Sudan (825,500) and DRC (346,500), but also from Burundi and Somalia. They are living in 30 formal settlements, primarily in Northern and Western regions. South Sudanese and Congolese continue to arrive in low numbers. The average arrival rate in 2019 stands at 16,000 refugees. After major influx waves in 2014 and 2016 related to the conflict in South Sudan, the continuous arrivals have strained Uganda's limited public services and local resources including land, firewood, and water, creating tension between refugees and host communities. ?
Chronic food insecurity is present at low levels in Uganda, mostly in Karamoja and Teso sub-region where 40% of households are estimated to be Stressed (IPC 2) and 10-13% in Crisis (IPC 3) in January to March 2019, and in refugee settlements where access to land and livelihoods are limited. ? Reductions in food assistance for refugees who arrived prior to July 2015 have resulted in many refugees, including children, eating only one meal a day. ?
The risk of measles, malaria, and cholera outbreaks is very high due to insufficient WASH facilities in reception centres and refugee settlements as well as in host communities. ?
INFORM measures Uganda's risk of humanitarian crisis and disaster to be high, at 6.3/10. Lack of coping capacity is of concern, at 6.9/10. ?
Latest Developments
18/06/2019
13/06/: On 11 June, the Uganda Ministry of Health and WHO declared an Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in Kasese district, at the border with DRC. Three cases are confirmed and a minimum of 27 cases suspected. A 5-year old Congolese boy and his grandmother died on 12 June. Other family members have been transferred to an isolation centre for observation. A response team has been deployed to the affected districts to identify people at risk. Since August 2018, more than 2,000 confirmed cases of EVD have been confirmed in neighbouring districts in DRC, with around 1,400 deaths (CFR 67%). ?
06/06: On 4 June heavy rain caused three landslides on Mount Elgon. At least five people died and 50 people are missing in Buwali and Bukalasi sub-countries, Bududa District. Around 150 houses were destroyed leaving an estimated 700 people in need of shelter. Access is restricted as several roads in Rakai district are impassable due to flood waters. Moderate to heavy rain is expected over the next days. ?
Humanitarian Access
27/05/2019
There are no significant access constraints. However, the provision of assistance, especially to rural and remote areas can be challenged in the rainy season (March- June; mid August - November) due to poor road infrastructure.
Key Priorities
27/05/2019
Food security: At least 475,000 people are severely food insecure in Uganda, excluding the refugee population. Without humanitarian assistance, refugees would likely go from Stressed to Crisis food insecurity levels. Food distributions for refugees are often delayed and/or insufficient. ?
Nutrition: Average GAM rates of 10-15% are common in most affected districts in Karamoja sub-region. ?SAM and GAM rates among refugees are of particular concern with a lack of food and/or nutritional diversity. ?Malnutrition rates among new arrivals from South Sudan and DRC reach critical thresholds. The global acute malnutrition rate is above 10%. Over 40% of women and children are anaemic. ?
WASH: Among refugees, sanitation coverage is below 40%. Limited water points serve a large refugee population, leading to long waiting lines. ?
Information Gaps and Needs
27/05/2019
Information on protection issues and more recent updates on malnutrition rates among the refugee population is lacking.
