Attachments
242,406 Congolese refugees as of 31 December 2017
46,600 Congolese new arrivals from January to December 2017
13,970 Congolese new arrivals since 1 December 2017
HIGHLIGHTS
-
Between 20th and 22nd January 2018, some 1,640 new refugee arrivals from the Democratic of the Congo (DRC) crossed to Uganda via Kisoro and Kanungu (1,389) and Lake Albert (251), bringing the total number of new arrivals since 18th December 2017 to 12,306.
-
Among them, 7,589 people arrived from North Kivu through Uganda’s southwestern borders with the DRC. Another 4,717 fled DRC’s Ituri region and entered Uganda across Lake Albert using fishing boats and canoes. *
-
The rate of arrivals remained as high as the previous reporting period, with a daily average of 410 people. Refugees reported fleeing attacks by Mai-Mai militia in North Kivu and inter-communal violence in Ituri.
-
Since 19th December, UNHCR has relocated 4,717 refugees from Lake Albert’s shores to Kagoma reception centre in Kyangwali settlement, Hoima district. Some 4,090 have been settled in Malembo C, with 627 others remaining at the reception centre and awaiting land allocation. The opening of Mombasa settlement area within Kyangwali, planned before the end of the week, will help ease decongestion of Kagoma reception centre, currently over capacity. The health centre at Malembo C needs to be expanded to meet the increasing demand for inpatient services, in addition to be urgently supplied with medical supplies like malaria rapid diagnostic tests. The supply of safe drinking water stood at 12 litres per person per day (l/p/d) during the reporting period, below the emergency standard of 15 l/p/d. To date, the provision of shelter for 60 vulnerable refugees has remained unaddressed.
-
Since 21st December, UNHCR has transferred 5,509 Congolese refugees from Nyakabande transit centre to Kyaka II settlement, Kyegegwa district, with a convoy of 556 individuals on 23rd January. Some 2,690 new arrivals remain at the transit centre awaiting relocation. There is an urgent need to speed up biometric registration of new arrivals and increase the number of persons per convoy to help reduce overcrowding at the transit centre.
-
At Kyaka II, partners have so far identified over 800 persons with specific needs (PSNs) among the new arrivals, including 108 unaccompanied minors and separated children. Some 99 children have been already placed in foster care and three others reunited with their families. Partners involved in the delivery of water, sanitation and hygiene services need to urgently expand the pool of community mobilizers to carry out outreach and awareness activities. PSNs in Byabakora are facing challenges to access health services due to the long distance from the health centre. The establishment of mobile health teams could help bring the services closer to those in need.