Geneva, 14 May 2013
1. Brief description of the emergency and impact
The conflict between rebel group M23 and the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that started in 2012 took a new twist in March 2013 when thousands of refugees fled from renewed fighting in the DRC to Kisoro district in western Uganda.
The refugees are hosted in various refugee settlement sites including Rwamwanja refugee settlement, in western Uganda. As of April 2013, the number of refugees rose from 20,000 to over 42,000 in less than three months putting tremendous pressure on the 41.9 square kilometre site. The refugees face numerous obstacles including:
• limited access to basic needs such as food, water, sanitation, shelter, and health care,
• lack of community services for persons with special needs (elderly, children, women and children),
• a rise in sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) and human rights violations,
• environmental degradation.
LWF/ACT Alliance is currently (April 2013) working with over 42,204 refugees (21,824 male and 20,380 female), majority (81%) of who are children under the age of 17 years.
2. Why is an ACT response needed?
It is estimated that the maximum carrying capacity (50,000 Refugees) in Rwamwanja settlement will be attained shortly. The current ACT Appeal (UGA121: July 2012-May 2013) is assisting 20,000 refugees with limited services including:
• water and sanitation
• 2,000 households with food security
• 10 villages with peace-building and conflict resolution
More resources are needed to address the urgent growing humanitarian need of this large population of vulnerable people.
3. National and international response
UNHCR and the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) have been the main actors in coordinating the response to the refugee crisis. Other agencies involved in the response include: Lutheran World Federation (LWF)/Act alliance, Windle Trust Uganda (WTU), Ugandan Red Cross (URC), African Initiative for Relief and Development (AIRD).