The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR Uganda has received USD 6 million (22 billion Shillings) from United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) as contribution to respond to the influx of refugees fleeing from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
This month, UNHCR told Howwe.Biz that they had received more than 40,000 refugees and more were still coming in. they are fleeing fighting between Lendu and Hema in Ituri province in DRC.
The contribution made through UNs Rapid Response window was announced by Mark Lowcock, the United Nations Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.
Speaking to this website last week, Ms. Teresa Ongaro the UNHCR regional spokesperson trashed media reports that they were losing aid due to a scandal involving the office of the Prime Minister and their organization.
She explain that while several aid organizations had threatened to pull out their resources, UNHCR was given time and a chance to register all refugees, an exercise that is slated to start in March.
The CERF is the UN's global emergency fund designed to deliver funding quickly to meet immediate humanitarian needs around the world.
In a press statement dated 28th February, Rosa Malango, the UN Resident Coordinator, said; "On behalf of the United Nations System in Uganda, I want to thank OCHA for this very timely contribution that will enable us to save lives, protect the most vulnerable and sustain the asylum environment among host communities.”
Ms. Malango says the funds are timely as it arrives when the influx of the refugees is still happening.
She further explains that the allocation will be used by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) which will receive USD 3.3 million (13 billion Shillings) for critical life-saving humanitarian assistance in protection, shelter, health, water and sanitation, and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) which will receive USD 1 million (3.6 billion Shillings) for its multi-sector response to the escalated refugee influx.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) will receive USD 500,000 (1.8 billion Shillings) for food and nutrition support for refugees, while the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) will receive USD 500,000 (1.8 billion Shillings) for the provision of life-saving sexual and reproductive health services including emergency obstetrical and newborn care and response to gender-based violence.
The UN Migration Agency (IOM) will receive USD 500,000 (1.8 billion Shillings) for emergency sanitation, hygiene and protection services while the World Health Organization (WHO) will receive USD 200,000 (724 million Shillings) for emergency measures for communicable disease management and control among new refugees and their host communities.
"The UN's life-saving humanitarian assistance to refugees will be delivered in partnership with local district governments and NGOs. The rapid response projects will be carried out within six months of this allocation after which a report on expenditures will be sent to the Emergency Relief Coordinator. The CERF has a robust monitoring and accountability framework that applies to all allocations, "She said in the release.
According to the Inter-agency coordination group on refugees, comprised of the Uganda Government, UN agencies and NGOs, Uganda was expected to receive about 60,000 new refugees from DRC during 2018, but the number could raise to double, considering 43,000 refugees have already arrived in Kyaka and Kyangwali settlements, while many more are still trekking in.
