Uganda is the most generous country, UK minister

Jun 23, 2017

“The UK stands ready to support Uganda in meeting the challenge of supporting its protracted refugee crisis.

 

The United Kingdom Minister for International Development, Lord Bates has applauded Uganda its refugee policy that he described as the most generous and progressive in the world.

Bates said South Sudan faces a worsening humanitarian crisis with over half the population in urgent, desperate need and ongoing violence forcing almost 4 million people to flee their homes.

Bates met President Yoweri Museveni ahead of the Solidarity Summit taking place at Speke Resort Munyonyo.

 

Full speech...

The UK recognises Uganda for its support to over 1.2 million refugees, of whom 750,000 have arrived in the last 11 months. The level of resources required to address this humanitarian crisis is not sustainable. The UK stands ready to support Uganda in meeting the challenge of supporting its protracted refugee crisis. The UK is committed to both addressing the root causes of forced displacement, but also sustainable support to Uganda in responding to the influx of refugees. Since 2014, the UK has provided USD 122 million to support emergency life-saving needs of refugees and to improve the lives of both long standing refugees and their host communities.

The UK strongly encourages regional leaders to redouble coordinated efforts to bring an end to violence and encourage a genuinely inclusive political process in South Sudan. The consequences for failure will be felt not only by Uganda, but by all countries - and most critically by the refugees themselves.  Without concrete steps by those in power to address the crisis at source and implement humanitarian reforms, more will die or be forced to flee their homes and seek safety in other countries.

Fighting and horrific brutalities have displaced millions of people in South Sudan - with over 2,000 South Sudanese refugees arriving in Uganda every day on average. Uganda is now the largest refugee hosting nation in Africa with more than 1.2 million refugees. The refugee flow must be addressed at source.

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