Japan Contributes US$ 6.3 Million To Support Efforts Towards Refugees And Host Communities In Uganda

The official announcement was made by the Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Uganda, H.E. Kazuaki Kameda and the Minister of Disaster Preparedness, Management and Refugees, Hon. Hillary Onek, during a press conference held at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kampala. The UN Resident Coordinator & UNDP Resident Representative Ms. Rosa Malango, UNHCR Representative Mr. Bornwell Kantande, and WFP Representative Mr. El Khidir Daloum were also present at the conference.

This generous contribution by the Government of Japan will provide the much needed assistance to refugees and host communities, focusing on health; water, sanitation and hygiene; food assistance; and livelihoods. UN agencies will collaborate with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and other partners to strengthen the humanitarian and development nexus by addressing the immediate needs as well as managing future shocks using a more integrated development approach.

This partnership is a part of an effort to implement the Refugee and Host Population Empowerment (ReHoPE) strategy, a transformative strategy which brings together a wide range of partners including the Government of Uganda, UN agencies, World Bank, development partners and the private sector in order to enhance self-reliance and resilience of refugees and host communities in Uganda. ReHoPE is an integral component of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework and is in line with the New York Declaration on Refugees and Migrants.

Uganda has become the largest refugee hosting country in Africa with more than one million refugees and asylum seekers. Since the escalation of conflict in South Sudan in July 2016, a total of 674,033 new refugees arrived in Uganda. It is anticipated that a further 400,000 refugees will arrive by the end of 2017.

Uganda’s refugee laws and policies are among the most progressive in the world. Refugees and asylum seekers are entitled to work, have freedom of movement and can access social services.

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UNHCR    Has received US$ 2,584,000 to provide services in public health; water, sanitation and hygiene; and livelihoods, to refugees and asylum seekers from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi, in Nakivale, Adjumani, Arua and Oruchinga districts.  These projects are expected to benefit at least 279,797 refugees and 83,939 members of the host communities.

WFP    Has received US$2,932,000 to assist refugees in Uganda with food and livelihood support. WFP will provide life-saving food assistance to approximately 509,000 refugees in the settlements of West Nile to guarantee minimum food consumption and prevent deterioration of their nutrition status. In addition, WFP will provide tailored livelihood support to some 12,000 households in refugee hosting districts, targeting both refugees and host communities. This project aims to reduce post-harvest losses and improve food security by providing farmers with food storage equipment and related training.

UNDP    Has received US$ 741,000 to create emergency employment for refugees and host communities; provide business skills training and start up grants for micro-enterprise development; and refurbish vocational training institutes. The project is expected to benefit over 5,000 refugees and Ugandan youth and women in Yumbe district. It will build on UNDP’s preceding partnership with the Government of Japan in 2016 that supported border stabilization, livelihoods and skills development for refugees and host communities in West Nile.

For more information please contact:

Embassy of Japan in Uganda

Naho Sakano

Researcher/Adviser

Tel: +256 752 734 482

Email : naho.sakano@mofa.go.jp  

Office of the Prime Minister

Catherine Nassuna

Personal Assistant to the Minister

Tel : 0782 374 474

    

UNHCR Uganda

Stephanie Perham

Donor Relations Officer

Tel : +256 775 822 957

Email: perham@unhcr.org

WFP Uganda

Lydia Wamala

Communications Officer

Tel: 0772 287 034

Email:

lydia.wamala@wfp.org

UNDP Uganda

Doreen Kansiime

Communications Assistant

Tel: +256 772 289 128

Email: doreen.kansiime@undp.org