Uganda appeals to donors for funds to help refugees

By Godfrey Olukya

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - The Ugandan government appealed to donors Friday for funds to feed an increasing number of refugees, urging the international community to support a humanitarian response to the refugee crisis.

The request comes at a time when the country is registering an influx of refugees fleeing renewed fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Minister of Relief Disaster Preparedness and Refugees Engineer Hillary Onek noted that Uganda is overwhelmed and needs urgent support to meet the needs of refugees.

“We continue to receive refugees coming into the country. Requirements in receiving them include giving them accommodation, feeding them and providing health services. We need US$804 million but we have been able to raise only US$47 million from recent appeals,” he told reporters after meeting development partners and the donor community in Kampala.

Authorities at Uganda’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo in Bunagana said in the last month more than 30,000 Congolese refugees have fled into Uganda from M23 rebels fighting government forces.

Uganda is one of the largest refugee-hosting nations in the world, with more than 1.4 million refugees, mostly from the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Uganda also hosts refugees from Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia and Eritrea.