The Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Addis Ababa, Mr. Peter H. Vrooman, visited UNHCR Sub-Office Gambella on 9 December. Mr. Vrooman’s last visit to Gambella was in March 2015 when he inaugurated Jewi camp along with the President of Gambella Regional State, His Excellency Ato Gatluak Tuk Khot; Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA); Deputy Director Ato Ayalew Aweke; then outgoing UNHCR Representative (Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa), Mr. Valentin Tapsoba; and the Deputy Assistant Secretary Catherine Wiesner of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (BPRM) in Washington.

The Canadian Ambassador to Ethiopia, H.E. Phillip Baker, on 7 December 2015 visited UNHCR Gambella Sub-Office to familiarize himself with the South Sudanese refugee operation in Gambella Region. He was accompanied by a representative from Canada is Dedicated to International Development (DFTAD), Mr. Dave Weber.

Due to identification of risk of measles outbreak in Kule refugee camp, MSF-Holland conducted a mass measles vaccination exercise from 11-14 January 2016 wherein 97.2% i.e. 5,767 from 5,934 targeted children aged 6-59 months were vaccinated against measles.

541 new arrivals, consisting of 131 families from South Sudan, were registered at the Pagak entry point and relocated to Pugnido 2 camp on 15 January 2016. The refugees were mainly from Upper Nile State and 70% of them were children. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) facilitated the relocation.

A humanitarian convoy took to safety 30 refugees originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo from Ezo to a new settlement at Makpandu.

UNHCR’s visit to Pagak found that the authorities and host community would welcome IDPs from Wau Protection of Civilians site, whose population is 234 people.

UNHCR, MSF, UNICEF and UMISS provided basic water, sanitation and hygiene facilities and services to some 4,000 IDPs who had fled to the ADRA compound in Yambio

Along the Western Balkans route, UNHCR and partners provide winterized accommodation, food, warm clothes, blankets, and medical assistance. (UNHCR)

UNHCR ensures that families with children are accommodated in heated tents as soon as possible and that those with health problems access medical care. (UNHCR)

Refugee and migrant women and girls face risks of sexual and gender-based violence along the journey to and in Europe. (UNHCR)