South Sudanese refugees in Uganda .. Politics split them into two and the war pushed them into the hell of asylum

The armed conflict in South Sudan sparked the largest African wave of asylum in Uganda, as thousands of citizens of the modern African country were displaced to refugee camps in northern Uganda as a result of the civil war and armed conflicts that South Sudan witnessed after its independence in 2011 from Sudan.

In early 2014, with the influx of South Sudanese refugees, Uganda opened 4 refugee reception centers, most of them in northwestern Uganda near the borders of the two countries, in addition to other refugee camps in central Uganda. Read also Oil is the secret … rape, murder and torture are widespread in southern Sudan Burning and hanging .. “killing every neighborhood that breathes” in South Sudan

The number of refugees in Uganda rose dramatically in 2017 after the fragile peace agreement signed between South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his deputy, Riek Machar, collapsed within months. In August 2017, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said in its statement that the number of South Sudanese refugees had reached one million. She called on the international community to provide urgent additional support to the South Sudanese refugees in Uganda.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees warned that the protection environment in Uganda is unfavorable, as refugees face many protection challenges due to forced displacement and increasing vulnerabilities that have been exacerbated by dwindling resources and the lack of basic social services in the host areas.

In its latest update, the UNHCR indicated that the current number of refugees has reached 889,000 refugees from South Sudan.

Corona challenges

The recent food cuts and pandemic response measures posed additional challenges for refugees in terms of their livelihoods and food security, and the imposition of health isolation on refugee camps in Uganda reduced their limited opportunities to obtain alternative income in host communities, prompting them to rely on humanitarian aid to meet their basic needs.

Peter Qarana, an employee of the United Nations agencies in Biali camp (northern Uganda near the borders of the two countries) explains the conditions of South Sudanese refugees in the camp, describing them as bad humanitarian conditions. In his speech to Al-Jazeera Net, he refers to the tragic appearance of children, and draws attention to their need for shelter, treatment and clothing.

Qarana explained that the camp residents are still suffering in light of the spread of the Corona pandemic, as there is a shortage of food and small businesses have stopped.

He added that despite the international aid provided by UN institutions and agencies, it is insufficient to meet the need for food and shelter.

Displaced women in Biali camp told Al-Jazeera Net that the humanitarian conditions are extremely dangerous, as they suffer from food shortages and the spread of diseases, and they appealed to human rights and humanitarian organizations to provide them with assistance.

Last April, the World Food Program announced a 30% reduction in food rations for all refugees due to the uncertainty about the sustainability of supplies, which exacerbated the humanitarian situation in light of the spread of the epidemic.

 Hopes of return and resource struggle

The UNHCR in Uganda stresses that the current conditions are not conducive to promoting or facilitating the voluntary return in safety and dignity to Southern Sudan, and attributed the reasons for this to the continuing armed conflict and human rights violations in Southern Sudan.

“Although the warring parties signed the Revitalizing Agreement to Resolve the Conflict in South Sudan in September 2018 and the formation of the Transitional National Unity Government in February 2020, the situation does not allow for a voluntary return,” she said in her statement.

In September 2020, a conflict over resources killed 10 South Sudanese refugees in the Dzaiibi transit camp in northern Uganda, and clashes between South Sudanese refugees and the host community took place at a shared water point.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Uganda considered the incident as worrying, and indicated that it was not the only accident, but rather similar incidents preceded it. Rights activists said the fighting inside refugee camps underscores the scarcity of resources in Uganda, which is hosting the largest number of refugees in Africa.

Security and economic concerns

The Secretary of the Ugandan Journalists Union, Steve Auma, expressed his concerns about the deterioration of the humanitarian situation of the South Sudanese refugees in Uganda, and explained in his interview to Al Jazeera Net that the Bidi Bidi refugee camp in northern Uganda is witnessing acts of violence and killing, acknowledging that his situation has become insecure.

He pointed to the efforts made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to secure protection in it, and that the camp includes more than 250,000 refugees from South Sudan.

Auma says that the Ugandan government opened its doors many years ago, welcoming the accommodation of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda.

Auma added that the Ugandan government has been providing logistical support, registration, food and medical relief supplies and protection through the Ugandan Prime Minister’s Office in Kampala, and he did not rule out that the large number of refugees would affect the relations of South Sudan and Uganda in the future.

Journalist interested in South Sudan, Ishaq Idris, described Al-Jazeera Net, Uganda and South Sudan have good relations, but he indicated that Uganda is not satisfied with the opening up of southern Sudan to its surroundings economically and commercially because Uganda depends in its economy on trade exchange between it and South Sudan, expecting that Uganda will use the refugee issue as a paper Pressure in its policies with the state of South Sudan.

Joint efforts

As the war continues in South Sudan, the Ugandan government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees are seeking more funding from the international community to deal with the influx of refugees and provide schools, as well as medical and psychosocial care for children who make up more than 60% of the new arrivals.

Since November 2017, more than 270,000 refugees have returned to South Sudan on their own initiative, but most of those still outside the country are waiting to confirm whether peace and security are available.

The conflict in South Sudan in 2016 left a major refugee crisis in the region, and Uganda currently hosts more than 1.35 million refugees, and for more than 5 decades it has been a refuge for people fleeing war and persecution in many countries, including neighboring countries, and it is a party to Major refugee conventions and international human rights treaties.

In September 2017, the USA imposed sanctions on 3 government officials for the increased attacks on civilians.

On May 18, 2017, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on South Sudan condemning violations, including sexual violence and the use of child soldiers, and calling for legal accountability through a mixed court.