Uganda’s ongoing open-door refugee policy has received praise from the international community, especially from the United Nations, for being progressive and forward-thinking and is among the 10 countries in the world with the highest refugee population – hosting around 865,000 by December 2016.
But this could change soon with the UN refugee chief and Uganda’s government on Thursday, calling for international help to support over 800,000 people.
More than 570,000 refugees have arrived from South Sudan since July – and the number could pass one million by the middle of this year, the joint statement by U.N. refugee chief Filippo Grandi and Uganda’s government said.
“We are at breaking point. Uganda cannot handle Africa’s largest refugee crisis alone,” Grandi said. “The lack of international attention to the suffering of the South Sudanese people is failing some of the most vulnerable people in the world when they most desperately need our help.”
Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda said the situation is becoming “critical” and urged the international community to help.
Starving, eating leaves or coconuts
The World Food Program has indicated there will be serious food shortages by June if more supplies are not shipped in, Musa Ecweru, the minister in charge of refugees, told The Associated Press.
Residents at Bidi Bidi told reporters a six-week wait for food distribution had left some to live on leaves or coconuts.
Still, minister Musa Ecweru said closing the border would be “inhumane” and yesterday Rugunda said: “Uganda has continued to maintain open borders but this unprecedented mass influx is placing enormous strain on our public services and local infrastructure.