Following the increased inflow of refugees from South Sudan, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, has doubled its assistance towards the refugee population in Uganda.
The most recent is the arrival of a Boeing 747 aircraft in Entebbe carrying more than 100 tons of emergency relief items.
This relief items are set to be delivered to refugee settlement areas in Adjumani, Arua, Kiryandongo as well Bidibidi settlement in Yumbe district.
“The people of South Sudan are suffering, as we’ve seen by the record numbers that have fled to Uganda and other neighbouring countries in recent weeks,” said UNHCR’s acting Representative to Uganda, Bornwell Kantande in a statement issued on Monday afternoon.
“We’re extremely grateful to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid for his ongoing support to UNHCR and for making it possible for us to ensure this much-needed aid gets delivered to thousands of the recent arrivals. This shipment will go a long way towards ensuring these people are living in a safe and dignified environment, he added.
The delivery comes just days after the number of South Sudanese who have been forced to seek safety in neighboring countries passed the one million mark, including more than 185,000 registered in the last ten weeks alone.
This assistance has been provided by Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice President of the United Arab Emirates and Emir of Dubai.
Story By Samuel Ssebuliba
