UNHCR, the Office of the Prime Minster (OPM) and partner agencies today officially launched a communication system for refugees and asylum seekers in Uganda. The two-way communication system is being rolled out to all refugee settlements in Uganda and is anticipated to cover the entire refugee operation by February 2019.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is pleased to announce the first ever Global Refugee Forum, which will take place on 17 and 18 December 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland. The event, which is being held at Ministerial level, will be co-hosted with Switzerland and co-convened by Turkey, Germany, Ethiopia and Costa Rica.

We are pleased to share with you the 2019 mid-year report on the South Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) and the country mid-year reports from the DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda. So far thanks to your support and efforts we managed to:  Provide 1.27 million South Sudanese refugees with food assistance  Ensure 11,500 South Sudanese refugee mothers delivered their babies safely with the assistance of qualified personnel  Assist 322,000 South Sudanese refugee children to attend early childhood development, primary or secondary school  Plant 622,000 new seedlings and reforest 2,911 hectares of land in Uganda, Kenya and Sudan in an effort to address environmental degradation

UN Refugee Chief welcomes South Sudan’s government of national unity: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi welcomes the formation of a long-awaited unity government in South Sudan, bringing political rivals together to work for lasting peace. The new government follows the ‘Revitalised agreement on the resolution of the conflict in the Republic of South Sudan’ signed in September 2018 by South Sudan’s warring parties The two main parties have agreed to join forces in running the conflict-affected nation and ending their years old differences. “The new government revives hope for a peaceful future for the people of South Sudan, who are suffering the consequences of this prolonged conflict,” High Commissioner Grandi said. “Millions of South Sudanese – including refugees and internally displaced people, deserve to see an end to their miseries.” This peace agreement has brought hope to the world’s youngest nation, which remains Africa’s largest humanitarian and refugee crisis with 2.2 million South Sudanese refugees and 1.46 million internally displaced. UNHCR is extending its support to South Sudan and its people in their endeavours to find peace and stability.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is forced to implement food cuts in the region, affecting Burundian refugees in Tanzania and Rwanda. In Rwanda food assistance is secured only until the end of April. A possible drastic cut in food rations is foreseen in the month of May (51%) and onwards, if no further contributions are received from donors.

Individual Refugee Status Determination processing has commenced in Nduta Camp in Tanzania for some 28,000 Burundian asylum seekers living in the camp. Tanzania has lifted prima facie refugee recognition in January 2017, after which arrival rates dropped significantly. Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC continue to accept Burundians on prima facie basis.

The Tanzanian Government has revoked the Refugee (Declaration) Notice No. 54 granting prima facie refugee status to asylum-seekers from Burundi. Detailed modalities under which the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) will be conducted for individuals fleeing Burundi have yet to be communicated. Meanwhile the average daily new arrivals’ figure has increased to 727 individuals (during 20 January and 2 February).

Protection staff from UNHCR had a meeting with the District Commissioner and immigration authorities in Ngara District following reports of some ad hoc screening activities conducted by the immigration officers at border posts in the district where some asylum-seekers were reportedly facing challenges in gaining entry into Tanzania. The implications and serious concerns were shared with UNHCR in Dar es Salaam. UNHCR then sent a formal communication to the Tanzanian Ministry of Home Affairs in Dar es Salaam for clarification and to find a solution.

UNHCR launched the 2017 Supplementary Appeal for the Burundi Situation. Currently 2% of the overall funding requirements (US$ 250 million) has been received. More funding is urgently needed to increase capacity and to decongest overcrowded camps.

The Burundi Situation needs urgent funding, as the total amount of contributions amounts to 1% of the overall needs. There are significant needs in refugee settlements, as the overall refugee population has grown to over 400,000, with new arrivals coming on a daily basis.