Preliminary Appeal Target: US$ 401,426 Balance Requested: US$ 401,426
Geneva, 11 June 2013
Dear Colleagues,
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 services especially for persons with special needs (elderly, children, women and children), a rise in sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) and other human rights violations, environmental degradation.
Since July 2012 (ACT appeal UGA121) LWF/ACT Alliance has been working with more than 42,204 refugees (21,824 male and 20,380 female), majority (81%) of who are children under the age of 17 years. The last appeal has been implemented to provide 20,000 refugees with water and sanitation, 2,000 households with food security, and 10 villages with peace-building and conflict resolution services.
More resources are needed to address the urgent growing humanitarian need of the growing population of needy refugees.
The appeal UGA132 has a target of $401,426 and hopes to assist more than 40,000 needy refugees including those who are marginalized and those with special needs. The sectors of intervention will include livelihoods/environmental protection, SGBV/protection and other community services.