UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Published purpose

Despite an elusive conclusion to the peace process in Uganda, the situation across much of conflict-affected northern Uganda continues to progress along the transition from humanitarian assistance to recovery and development. However, poor access to life-saving basic services for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the increasing frequency of natural disasters, such as drought and flooding, have impeded some of the progress. The humanitarian situation in Uganda remains complex, with multiple emergencies existing side-by-side in different parts of the country. In total, the target population for humanitarian organizations working in Uganda in 2009 is some 1.6 million individuals. CIDA's contribution is helping to support the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to assist 480,000 displaced persons to return to their areas of origin, and to help meet the needs of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda and Sudan living in camps, as well as urban refugees of various nationalities. Refugee needs include access to medicines, clean water and sanitation, food, education, prevention of HIV/AIDS and legal assistance for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. UNHCR is addressing these issues through community-based approaches, and ensures a coordinated response in camp coordination and management as well as protection. In addition, through livelihood support activities UNHCR is ensuring that areas affected by refugee camp closures are rehabilitated and that the capacities of host communities are strengthened.