Highlights
- 9,437 South Sudanese refugees arrived in Uganda between the 5 th and 18th of July at an average daily rate of 674. The number of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda now stands at 990,761 and is expected to reach one million within the next few weeks if current arrival rate continues
- The majority of new arrivals are women and children, who report that the security situation in South Sudan continues to deteriorate, with ethnically motivated attacks, prolonged violent conflict and forcible recruitment of young people by armed groups as reasons for fleeing to Uganda.
- New arrivals report ongoing clashes between armed forces in Morobu County, Yei River State. The fighting is expected to displace more people from the area, potentially leading to an increased influx into Uganda in the coming weeks.
- Refugees continue to be received at Imvepi Settlement in Arua, which now has a refugee population of 112,377.
- In response to the continued influx of refugees into northern Uganda, preparations are ongoing for the opening of Rhino Camp Extension in Arua, which is due to begin receiving new refugees in early August.
- The UK Minister of State for the Department for International Development and Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Rory Stewart visited Arua settlements accompanied by UNHCR Representative to Uganda Bornwell Kantande and British High Commissioner to Uganda Peter West. They visited the Imvepi Reception Centre, Vurra Cope Primary School in Rhino Camp and a DFID-funded agricultural project to learn about the journey of a new refugee and integrated service delivery in refugee-hosting communities.