Uganda receives Sh49b for refugees

Feb 28, 2015

The Nations of United States (US) and Australia have contributed US$17.7m (Sh 49.56b) to Uganda to help in resumption of distribution of full- sized food rations to all refugees in Uganda

By Henry Sekanjako

The Nations of United States (US) and Australia have contributed US$17.7m (Sh 49.56b) to Uganda to help in resumption of distribution of full- sized food rations to all refugees in Uganda.

The donation was announced Friday by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in Kampala.

According to a statement by the WFP, the United States made a contribution of US$15.4m with Australia contributing US$ 2.3m.

In the statement, the WFP country representative Alice Martin –Daihirou noted that the funding from both nations will support refugees and extremely food insecure households in Karamoja.

“These generous contributions have come at a critical time and will allow WFP to support nearly 460,000 people both Ugandans and refugees with lifesaving assistance for three to four months,” said Alice Martin-Daihirou.

He noted that WFP still requires additional funding in order to continue providing full rations to all refugees through the end of the year.

According to the World food Program, US$7.6M is needed monthly to provide basic food and nutrition support to refugees.

Currently, the WFP assists 303,000 refugees in Uganda playing a key role as part of a coordinated effort under the UN High commission for Refugees (UNHCR).  

The influx of people fleeing the conflict in South Sudan over the last 14 months tripled WFP’s funding requirements to meet refugees’ basic food and nutrition needs. The numbers of refugees are projected to grow to 383,000 by December.

In January, the lack of funding forced WFP to cut food rations for 146,000 refugees who had arrived in Uganda before July 2013.

However WFP explained that the ration cuts have not affected the new South Sudanese refugees arriving in Uganda since fighting broke out in their country in mid –December 2013.

With the US and Australia contributions, WFP Plans to provide a market opportunity for small scale farmer groups by supporting local food purchases.

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