KAMPALA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Uganda, UN Refugee Agency and other relief organizations in the east African country on Tuesday launched a 927-million-U.S. dollar emergency relief appeal to cater for the influx of Congolese and South Sudanese refugees fleeing into the country.
A joint statement by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office and the Ugandan government issued here said the money will address the needs of the over 1.3 million refugees expected to be in Uganda by end 2020.
The appeal also seeks assistance to continue supporting refugee hosting districts, according to the statement.
"Ongoing violation of human rights by armed groups and military activities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and continuing tension along ethnic lines in South Sudan in particular are pushing hundreds of people to flee for their lives and take refuge in Uganda on daily basis," the statement said.
The appeal comes at a time when relief agencies are witnessing a critical funding shortage for the refugee response in Uganda.
"Uganda needs urgent financial support and solidarity from our partners to enable us to continue coping with increasing numbers of refugees and be able to receive, register, allocate land and settle them, while at the same time, supporting communities that host them," said Hilary Onek, Uganda's minister for relief, disaster preparedness and refugees.
Uganda currently hosts 1.25 million refugees, according to UNHCR figures. The refugee population is anticipated to grow to 1.3 million by the end of 2020.
