Extreme hunger hits refugees in Uganda as COVID-19 spreads and aid is cut

The latest data issued by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) shows that more than 90,000 refugees living in refugee camps in Uganda are affected by extreme famine, and over 400,000 of all refugees staying in this African country are suffering because of food insecurity.

Amongst this group, there are over 135,000 children who are malnourished and who urgently need medicines and medical care. Furthermore, the situation is getting worse. Refugees who live in Uganda come mostly from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi having fled their countries because of violence and military conflicts.

In April 2020, the World Food Programme (WFP) decided to cut the amount of food allocated amongst refugees as well as reducing the funding which covered their basic needs. The decision overlapped with the outbreak of COVID-19 and the lockdown restrictions introduced by the Ugandan government that resulted in an increase in unemployment amongst the refugees who were unable to earn money outside the settlements in which they lived thus preventing them from providing food for themselves and their families.

Unfortunately, the WFP announced that a further aid cut of about 10% is possible in November and it estimates that in order to cover the full food requirements for refugees living in Ugandan settlements, it would need about US$15.3 million by the end of the year.

Local activists are worried about the shortages and warn they may lead refugees to face starvation not to mention potential clashes with Ugandan citizens similar to that which happened in September when, as a result of conflict between local people and refugees at a water point, 10 people died.

The UN also considers Uganda to be one of the best places to live for refugees due to its liberal policy towards them. Refugees can run their own businesses there, find employment, and can move around the country without restrictions as well as having access to public services such as education. Uganda also follows the UN standards regarding the refugee policy which was implemented in 2017 in the form of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework which promotes the integration of newcomers into local communities.

However, at the outbreak of COVID-19, Uganda decided not to accept any new refugees and started to close its borders. Although the government reopened these in June, thousands of refugees from DRC had to remain in northern Uganda in the Zombo District.

Furthermore, Uganda has recently decided to shut down over 200 refugee agencies which normally dealt with asylum seekers due to their non-compliance with Ugandan regulations. This also makes the refugee situation worse as now only 69 aid agencies can legally provide them with help in the face of the pandemic.