“Hope away from home “, the theme for this year’s concluded world Refugee Day.
20 June is world Refugee Day gazetted by the United Nations since 2001 as recognition of the Golden jubilee of the 1951 status of Refugees convention.
A refugee camp in Ethiopia
Uganda joined the rest of the world to celebrate the day.Uganda ranked fourth country in the world with the highest number of Refugees, 1.3 million only behind Turkey, Germany and Pakistan and number one the African continent. Nearly half of Uganda’s refugee are from south Sudan and the rest are from Eritrea, Burundi, DRC, Central African Republic and Somalia. Uganda ha several refugee settlement camps like Rwamawanja settlement, Nakivale settlements,Imvepi,Kampala settlement, Acholi-pii settlement ,Kiryadongo settlement, kyangwali settlement among others all these with the major role of harnessing and empowering Refugees mentally, physically, socially and economically.
A map showing refugee and asylum settlement in Uganda
However Uganda still faces a challenge of under funding to give Refugees what they deserve and this affects the service delivery to the Refugees and their inclusive programs to the money economy, this continues to decline proper life to Refugees. In his comments Frank Walusimbi ,Associate communications officer to United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNCHR) UN Refugee agency in Uganda laments that underfunding is a major setback to the their work.
With the theme of this year’s celebration, Uganda’s Refugees are having a home from home for example Congolese are into much of the fashion industry in Uganda operating in Kiyembe and Cooper complex , the Somalis and Eritreans are enjoying stay in Rubaga,Kabalagala and kasanga . However these are few compares to those in camps.
The office of the prime Minister and the ministry of Disaster preparedness and refugee seek more funding for the UN to help cater for all the needs of Refugees in Uganda. The United Nations passed resolution to provide 1.5 billion USD as aid to help Sudanese and neighbours who are harboring many of the immigrants about 24 millions who are in need of aid after fleeing the ongoing war in Sudan. Among is Chad whose president Mahamat Ďeby , called on the UN earlier on to provide aid and also called his fellow soldiers fighting to get power to seize fire.with the continuous escalating numbers of Refugees, Uganda needs to be taken as priority and given more funds to make Refugees even in camps ,”have a home away from home.”
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