New Global Trends report on the state of the world’s refugees shows displacement continues to rise. In 2018, the world reached yet another tragic milestone. For the first time in recorded history the number of displaced people around the world eclipsed 70 million. By the end of the year, 70.8 million individuals were forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, or generalized violence.

DETERIORATING SECURITY SITUATION SLOWED REFUGEE OPERATIONS IN JUNE – Sudan's security situation deteriorated in June, with reports of increased violence and criminality, including sexual and gender-based violence, across most States hosting South Sudanese refugees. A nationwide internet shutdown began on 3 June, with nearly 50 per cent of response partners without internet access throughout June. Response partners reported difficulties accessing their offices due to movement restrictions in Khartoum for a number of days. Price fluctuations observed since the beginning of 2019 worsened with scarcity of many goods in local markets. Cash shortages continued throughout June, aggravated by bank closures during a general strike from 9-11 June. Where banks were open, lack of internet disrupted banking services. Distribution activities were delayed in many locations due to the security situation and fuel shortages, including education supplies.

8,253 Burundian refugees have been assisted to voluntarily return so far in 2019, with some 1,801 assisted in March and 2,975 assisted in April.

UNHCR’s Regional Refugee Coordinator (RRC) for the Burundi situation, Ms. Catherine Wiesner carried out a mission to Burundi, on 24-26 April, 2019. The mission aimed at taking stock of the current situation of Burundian refugee returns. The RRC spoke with returnees that arrived at the newly opened Kinazi Transit Center in Muyinga. During her visit, the RRC highlighted the need for more support to strengthen the reintegration programming to create sustainable conditions for the returnees and communities in areas of return.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency welcomes South Sudan’s ground-breaking accession to the 2009 African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa, also known as the Kampala Convention. The Kampala Convention is the first and only regional legally binding instrument for the protection and assistance of internally displaced persons, which incorporates the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.

In 2018, across the region, RRP partners achieved a number of tangible results for South Sudanese refugees, including: the provision of food assistance to 1.23 million people, assisted deliveries for 23,000 South Sudanese mothers, support and care provided to 100 per cent of identified survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and the provision of core relief items for 165,000 refugee families.

Despite considerable underfunding, RRRP partners were able to support Burundian refugees in a number of key areas in 2018. Achievements include access to primary schooling for 43,695 Burundian refugee children (69 per cent), assisted deliveries for 96 per cent of pregnant Burundian women, provision of food assistance to all refugees in need of food and relatively low rates of global acute malnutrition among children six months to five years across the region.

For returns to Burundi to be sustainable, more investment in areas where refugees are returning is desperately needed. While UNHCR is not promoting refugee returns to Burundi at this point in time, UNHCR and partners are providing assistance to those who indicate they have made an informed choice to voluntarily repatriate.

MEASLES AND POLIO CAMPAIGNS – Countrywide measles and polio vaccination campaign was launched in April. The vaccination campaign is part of the response to the measles outbreak that affected all Sudan States since November 2018, with over 5,959 cases reported across resident, host and refugee communities. The campaign is targeting 3.4 million children between 9 months and 10 years of age for measles, and below 5 years of age for polio. The vaccination campaign is being paired with health promotion initiatives to raise awareness of the benefits of the measles vaccine and support symptom recognition and reporting by communities at risk.

ENROLLMENT CAMPAIGNS LAUNCHED FOR REFUGEE CHILDREN IN EAST DARFUR – The exercise has seen enrolment nearly double in a two-week period, from 617 refugee students to 1,210 students across both Al Nimir and Kario camps. In El Ferdous settlements, over 800 refugee students enrolled so far. The campaigns include coordinated refugee community sensitization initiatives on the importance of school enrolment and attendance, especially for girls. The 2019/2020 school year is scheduled to begin in June.