More than 40,000 Congolese refugees have sought refuge in Uganda since January due to escalating violence in eastern DR Congo, the UN reported Tuesday.
The surge in arrivals threatens to overwhelm Uganda’s already strained resources, compounded by significant US aid cuts.
Conflict involving the M23 group has displaced countless individuals, with estimates suggesting around 900 deaths.
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) stated that the total number of Congolese refugees in Uganda now nears 600,000.
This influx, combined with around 70,000 Sudanese refugees, has pushed Uganda’s total refugee population to 1.8 million.
In the past two weeks, approximately 600 people have been arriving daily, exacerbating the pressure on existing facilities.
Transit and reception centers along the border are currently beyond capacity, forcing refugees into makeshift shelters like kitchens.
Critical shortages of essential resources such as water and sanitation facilities are creating a high risk of disease outbreaks.
The Nyakabande transit center, designed for 7,000 people, now houses six times that number.
The UNHCR highlighted the severe impact of US aid reductions, largely stemming from cuts to USAID.
This funding shortfall has led to the deprioritization of vital refugee services, including the dismissal of roughly 250 health workers.
The UNHCR is being forced to scale back crucial protection activities to address only the most urgent needs.
Neighboring Burundi recently closed a transit center housing 45,000 refugees, citing untenable conditions.
