According to WHO, the lack of laboratory services remains an ongoing gap for the refugee health response across Sudan.

Uganda received 354,456 new refugees arrivals from South Sudan in 2017

A total of 46,717 work permits have been issued/renewed during the period of January 1, 2017-Dec 31, 2017.

South Sudanese refugees continued to arrive in DRC. At the beginning of December 2017, inauguration of the refugee site Kaka 1 near Dungu center, first emergency shelters were handed over to the refugees who previously lived with Congolese host families or at the local primary school, and to the newly arrived. 220 Congolese families in Dungu who had hosted refugees received a one-off cash grant of 90 USD from UNHCR.

In Lusenda camp, 400 new blocs of showers and latrines were under construction. The water network was being extended to reach all areas of the camp.

1,700 Burundian refugees were transferred to the new site of Mulongwe (South Kivu Province) since its opening in late November.

The Office of the Prime Minister succeeded in reducing the biometric registration backlog from 205,929 in January 2017 to 51,272 in December 2017

A first batch of newly constructed emergency shelters (192) were handed over to South Sudanese refugees in the new site of Kaka (Haut – Uele Province).

As part of their winterization activities, UNHCR and its partners are continuing to distribute shawls and sweaters as the temperatures decrease. A total of 20,458 shawls were distributed as of 20 December. UNHCR is also distributing, through its partners, sweaters for children under five. In Nayapara, the military agreed for UNHCR to use its distribution point, which will increase the outreach from 526 families to 1,200 families during each distribution that takes place four times a week.

UNHCR is calling on the Greek Government to continue easing pressure on Lesvos, Chios and Samos, by further shortening procedures for people eligible to move, and urgently improving conditions for those who continue to stay.