Number of South Sudanese fleeing to Uganda tops one million in the world’s fastest growing refugee crisis

In response to the announcement by the UNHCR that one million South Sudanese refugees are now in Uganda, Ranjan Pudyal, Oxfam South Sudan’s Country Director, said:

As long as the senseless, costly and brutal war in South Sudan continues, its people will continue to flee to find protection, food, water and shelter.
-Ranjan Pudyal

“As long as the senseless, costly and brutal war in South Sudan continues, its people will continue to flee to find protection, food, water and shelter. More than anything, they need peace at home. South Sudan’s neighbouring countries and the international community must honour their commitments to get South Sudan’s warring parties back to the negotiating table. Until then, it will not be safe for South Sudanese refugees to return home, forcing them to depend on aid across the border.”

Victoria Hopkins, Humanitarian Program Manager at Oxfam Canada added:

“As they flee, people lose their possessions, crops and income, and often get stranded in places where there aren’t enough facilities to support them. Most are women and children who are particularly vulnerable to the risks that come with finding aid and services away from their communities, including safe access to public sanitation facilities, and essential sexual and reproductive healthcare. We have seen alarming increases in sexual violence against women and girls, including rape, and sexual exploitation and abuse.”

Peter Kamalingin, Oxfam Uganda’s Country Director, said:

“Uganda’s open-door policy to refugees has provided protection for one million South Sudanese. This is the third-largest population of refugees in the world. Yet Uganda is one of the most under-funded host nations. If the international community does not increase support to Uganda’s refugee response it could quickly buckle and fail. Donor governments must urgently release funds critical in supporting refugees with life-saving aid, and long-term support for those who have already fled their country. ”

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