U.S. gives Rwamwanja refugees sh8.5 billion

By John Agaba

 The U.S. Government has given more than $3.4 million (about sh8.5 billion) to the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) to help some thousands of refugees at Rwamwanja refugee camp in Kamwenge district, western Uganda.

Because of the insurgency in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, there is an influx of refugees trickling into Uganda, something that has put more strain on WFP, it is reported.

WFP country director, Sory Ouane says asylum seekers arrive into Uganda with hardly anything on them.

“They don’t have food, cooking utensils, nothing. They don’t have a place to sleep.’’

“They arrive exhausted, hungry, under-nourished, and with traumatized children. WFP’s support is the first full hot meal in days for many new arrivals,” Ouane explains.

“This contribution [from the U.S.] could not have come at a better time,” he says.

According to him the donation will enable WFP help approximately 260,000 refugees and many other vulnerable people.

The asylum seekers enter Uganda through Nyakabande transition center in Kisoro.

They stay there as they make up their mind—whether to go back to Congo or stay, but most of them stay. Those who choose to stay are cared for mainly by WFP and UNHCR.

Because the number of those who opt to stay is high and initially could not be accommodated at the Nakivale refugee camp, also in western Uganda, government created Rwamwanja refugee camp

However, Sory said some of the funds donated would go towards helping vulnerable groups in Karamoja.

The north eastern region is home to chronic food insecurity, which prompted WFP to donate food rations to the residents.

About 148,000 people from the region will be helped this year, he added. “Malnourished children will be assisted through community-based supplementary feeding.’’