Collection points, transit centres and reception centres in Uganda are severely over-stretched due to the mass influx.

On 16 June, the Day of the African Child was commemorated in all South Sudanese refugee camps in Gambella region. Children’s activities to mark the day included: songs, cultural show, football and volleyball matches.

Both refugees and members of host communities participated in activities to commemorate World Refugee Day on 20 June, which focused on promoting peaceful coexistence among refugees and between refugees and their host community. The main event in Gambella region took place at Tierkidi camp. There were also activities in the other five South Sudanese refugee camps in the region.

World Vision Ethiopia on 28 June started the handover of Kule refugee camp permanent water supply system to the International Rescue Committee (IRC).

In Tierkidi camp, various religious denominations (Presbyterian, Catholic, Nazarene, Seventh Day Adventist, and Evangelical Covenant Churches) held general “prayers for peace” in response to recent fighting in Juba. Various speakers at the event, which was held on 15 July urged compatriots to strive for peace with statements such as: “let us start peace at home; war kills our children; where there is love and forgiveness there will be no revenge and hatred etc”. Generally, refugees considered the development in Juba as a major setback to their hopes of returning home in the near future.

Recent fighting has led to more than 37,000 South Sudanese refugees fleeing to Uganda, more than arrived in the first 6 months of 2016.

New arrivals in Uganda report that armed militias are burning down homes, murdering civilians and forcibly recruiting young men and boys in to their ranks.

A new settlement area is to be opened in Yumbe district, and could potentially host up to 100,000 South Sudanese refugees.

Over 760,000 South Sudanese refugees have fled South Sudan in 2016. The South Sudan refugee crisis is now the largest refugee situation on the continent.

Over 131,000 South Sudanese refugees arrived in Sudan in 2016. This brings the cumulative total to 297,168 since the start of the emergency in December 2013.