18,000 refugees arrive in Uganda

Video Footage by: UNHCR | Marc Hofer

Close to 16,000 South Sudanese refugees have fled to Uganda between July 16 and 20 alone.

More South Sudanese are expected in Uganda, fleeing in fear of another violent escalation. The majority of new arrivals are women and children from the Equatoria region.

UNHCR works with the government of Uganda to provide food, water and shelter. Despite Uganda’s generous policy towards refugees, the latest influx is putting the country’s resources under strain, UNHCR says.

UNHCR launched a revised funding appeal for USD 701 million amid concerns the number of South Sudanese refugees in the region could pass the one million mark this year, if clashes continue between South Sudan’s former warring parties who are now partners in a Transitional Government of National Unity, sending more people to flee across the country’s borders.

Uganda hosts the largest number of South Sudanese refugees, 208,776, according to the latest UNHCR update from June 29.