How refugee influx is taking toll on Yumbe

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When Yasin Ari was 15, travelling to visit his grandparents just 2km away used to take an entire day. The journey through mostly forested terrain was an adventure, involving encounters with wild animals, swimming across streams and foraging for wild fruits.

Today, that same route is now straight and dusty. “Wild animals used to roam freely, but they have disappeared. Waterbucks and antelopes are no longer found. The valleys where we once found thickets are gone, replaced by human activity. Rivers are dirty and drying up,” Ari says.

Now 77, Ari serves as the representative of elders on the Yumbe district council. He notes that the landscape changes in Yumbe are exacerbated by harsh weather, with temperatures rising to 43°C.

In the 1950s, the population was much smaller and the area was covered with trees, tall grasses and numerous wild animals.

“Between 1957, when I started primary school and 1962, when Uganda gained independence, our district had a scattered population of no more than 10,000 people living in grass-thatched houses,” Ari recalls.

Today, Yumbe’s population approaches one million, with around 250,000 being refugees. The first refugees arrived in 1994 and the number has continued to grow. Uganda is Africa’s largest host of refugees, with over 1.5 million across the country.

Bush burning in Bidibidi.

Environmental impact

The influx of refugees has significantly impacted the environment in West Nile. The once pristine lands in the five sub-counties of Kochi, Romogi, Kululu, Ariwa, and Obongi have been cleared to establish the Bidibidi refugee settlement.

“The settlement has destroyed vast areas of greenery for farming and housing. Previously, people were mostly subsistence farmers, but now large areas are being cultivated commercially. Much of the greenery has been cleared,” Ari explains.

A World Bank assessment found that the refugee influx from South Sudan has increased the rate of degradation and tree loss in West Nile, both inside the refugee settlements and around their boundaries. Both refugee and host communities are highly dependent on forests and woodlands.

Climate realities in Bidibidi

The pressure on natural vegetation in West Nile is palpable. Weather patterns in Yumbe have become increasingly unpredictable, and climate change effects are compounded by human activities, such as mining and construction.

Life inside the Bidibidi refugee settlement is becoming increasingly difficult. Margaret, for example, struggles to carry a bundle of firewood collected 5km away. The time spent collecting firewood causes conflicts at home due to its impact on her ability to prepare meals.

“There is a shortage of firewood because trees are being cut down and bushfires are frequent. We must travel long distances to find firewood, which sometimes leads to domestic disputes,” she explains Bidibidi, covering 250 square kilometres of the eastern half of Yumbe district, extends southward from the South Sudanese border to Moyo district on the western bank of the Kochi River.

A rainy afternoon in Bibibid.

Lorna Araba, a resident of Village 13 in the camp, laments the impact of climate change, noting that a lack of rain results in a scarcity of green vegetables for cooking.

Rose Opani, another resident, describes the extremes of weather, saying, “During the dry season, food is scarce.”

Sebit John Bosco, another refugee, reminisces about plentiful food and favourable weather conditions in South Sudan before the move to Yumbe.

“Since our arrival in Yumbe, we have been cutting down trees to make charcoal and build homes. This has negatively affected the weather,” says Sebit.

Michael Joel Nabugere, the Bidibidi refugee settlement commandant, notes that the demand for charcoal exceeds the rate at which trees are being planted. Refugees consume over 350,000 metric tons of wood annually, though consumption has decreased with the use of improved stoves. Nonetheless, the environmental impact remains severe.

Efforts to address the issues

In anticipation of the refugee influx in 2016, the district recommended protecting certain indigenous trees.

“We marked some tree species to prevent their cutting, but due to pressures, even these marked trees have disappeared,” Ari says.

Afzelia africana, known locally as mili, disappeared between 2016 and 2017. The African mahogany is now extinct in Yumbe district.

“We are in danger due to this degradation,” Ari warns.

Ari

Andama Swaib Solo, the Yumbe senior environment officer, acknowledges that climate change issues existed before the arrival of refugees, but their presence has intensified these challenges. With over a million people competing for resources, decreased agricultural output and loss of income, refugees are turning to tree cutting and charcoal production as a livelihood.

Contractors are hitting dry wells during drilling and the region has experienced increased disease due to drastic weather changes.

“Last year, flooding during the rainy season increased mosquito-borne diseases,” Andama explains.

Restoration efforts

Under the wetland grant, Yumbe district has encouraged refugees to plant trees by distributing free seedlings. The World Bank has allocated $15m for the rehabilitation of degraded forests in 14 refugee settlements in West Nile.

A refugee digging in Yumbe.

Over the past year, 350,000 seedlings, including mahogany, have been planted in response to climate change impacts.

Efforts to restore the environment, especially in Bidibidi, focus on reducing biomass consumption.

“We have provided energy-saving cooking stoves in schools with large enrollments, such as Yumbe SS,” says Ambaga.

The UNHCR has been asked to conduct a rapid assessment of tree cover loss in Yumbe district and to develop a forest landscape management plan.

Ari suggests that settlement patterns should be reassessed, advocating for urban development over rural expansion to preserve fertile lands for agriculture.

Nabugere concludes: “We need a national dialogue to find viable alternatives for protecting the environment while meeting the essential needs of people.”