SITUATION REPORT Nº6 – KENYAN REFUGEES IN UGANDA – 31 JANUARY 2008
HIGHLIGHTS 1,174 KENYAN REFUGEES HAVE TRANSFERRED TO MULANDA TRANSIT SITE UNHCR AND OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER UNDERTAKING ASSESSMENT OF BUKWO DISTRICT, WHERE UNCONFIRMED NUMBERS OF REFUGEES HAVE BEEN REPORTED
The information contained in this report has been gathered by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) from sources including the Government of Uganda, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
approximately 35 kilometres from the border, is the Situation Overview sole location at which assistance should be provided to Kenyan refugees in Uganda, according to UNHCR. 1. The situation in Kenya remains tense, with reports of escalated violence in parts of the Rift Valley and 7. As of 30 January, some 1,174 refugees have Western provinces, in the period since the last report. accepted to be transferred to the Mulanda transit There have been increased reports of violent site. Initial preparations at the site were made for up to retaliatory action by Kikuyu groups against Kenyans of 6,000 refugees. Lower than expected initial turnout led other tribal/ethnic backgrounds. to the suspension of the transfers from 25 to 27 January following the initial two-day campaign. 2. Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi However, UNHCR reports that transfers have been Annan, who arrived in Kenya on 22 January, brought picking up in recent days as family members sent President Mwai Kibaki and leader of the opposition ahead to the site as scouts report back on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Raila Odinga conditions at the site. together for the first time since the disputed elections on 29 January. The two sides continue negotiations 8. On 28 January, the Kenyan High Commissioner under the mediation effort led by the former Secretary- visited the Mulanda transit site, assuring the refugee General. population that a commission of inquiry had been formed to look into damage to property. This would 3. The impact of the violence in Kenya continues to be require all refugees to eventually return to their areas felt in eastern Uganda. At present, the Government of of origin to enable the commission to conduct its Uganda estimate of the number of Kenyan refugees in inquiry. Uganda remains at approximately 6,500. Border authorities report only a limited number of new arrivals 9. Following the opening of the Mulanda transit site, in the past week, possibly due to road blocks on the the reception centres in Malaba and Busia have Kenyan side. The prevailing trend of displacement in closed. Kenyan remains towards Nairobi and Central Province. 10. On 31 January, the Uganda media reported new 4. However, there are reports that the actual number of signs of fuel shortages in the country, attributed to the Kenyans in Uganda may be higher. Some Kenyans worsening situation in Kenya, where the main roads are entering Uganda as visitors/students, rather than leading to Uganda have been blocked for several as refugees. Additionally, there are an unconfirmed days. Heavy military equipment, including helicopters, number of refugees in Bukwo District. The United is being used to escort trucking convoys from Kenya to Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR, and Office of the Uganda following several reported attacks on Uganda Prime Minister are undertaking a joint assessment in truck convoys in recent days. Bukwo District on 31 January.
5. There has been no official update to the overall Priority Needs refugee figure since 21 January. 11. At present, the UNHCR informs that it has met Mulanda Transit Site existing needs at the Mulanda transit site with existing 6. On 23 January, UNHCR, in conjunction with the resources and partnerships. Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) and district authorities, began the re-location and registration of 12. Host communities in the border districts have refugees to the newly-opened transit site at Mulanda requested assistance from the district local (Tororo District). The Mulanda site, which is government in the form of food and non-food aid, - 1 - including shelter, to ease the strain on limited household resources. 24. The Salvation Army is planning to provide support to 500 households in Manafwa District, starting with 13. District local governments have also raised the the distribution of a one-month food ration. issue of the strain posed on the health care system by the added population. 25. The URCS plans to establish an information point at the border crossing at Malaba and Busia in the coming days. Humanitarian Response Coordination Mulanda Transit Site 14. The UNHCR reports that food, health, shelter, water and sanitation facilities are in place at the 26. The humanitarian community in Uganda has Mulanda transit site. agreed jointly to support the Government’s response to the situation of the Kenyan refugees, with inter-agency 15. All refugees are receiving NFIs upon arrival. operational coordination to be led by the United Supplies have been provided by the following Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR, subsequent to the organizations: granting of prima facie status to the Kenyans in mattresses from the Kenyan High Commissioner Uganda. jerrycans, charcoal and stoves from the NGOs GOAL and The Salvation Army 27. The NGO Save the Children has taken the lead on coordination of child protection and education 16. The URCS and World Vision are working to activities. The first child protection meeting was held in improve sanitation facilities at the site, while the United Tororo on 29 January. Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has arranged for the trucking in of water, following the installation of four 28. The UNHCR has developed a contingency plan for 10,000 litre tanks at the site. the influx of up to 50,000 Kenyans into Uganda, in conjunction with humanitarian partners. The 17. Save the Children has established a safe space contingency plan was discussed on 29 January at a programme for 500 children; to date, 389 children have meeting convened in Kampala; the new draft registered, including 296 children aged 3 to 13 years incorporating comments received will be circulated to and 93 children aged 13 to 17 years. partners. Potential partners under the contingency plan were asked to identify themselves to UNHCR by 18. As part of its preparations, Save the Children has contacting Roberta Russo, External Relations Officer, erected five first aid tents at the safe space and has on [email protected] or +256772700991. trained 28 safe space facilitators from the refugee community. 29. OCHA will continue to issue regular Situation Reports. Inputs may be sent to: [email protected]. 19. Save the Children is also working closely with the URCS on tracing and reunification of unaccompanied For more information, please contact: children, 12 of whom have been registered to date. Kristen Knutson, Public Information and Donor
Liaison Officer, OCHA-Uganda: +256 312 244 888, 20. UNICEF has provided 15 School-in-a-Box kits for +256 772 759 996 (mobile), [email protected]; Chris emergency education for approximately 1,000 children. Hyslop, Desk Officer, OCHA-New York: +1 917 367 Save the Children has also procured thee Early 9457, [email protected]; Stephanie Bunker, Public Childhood Development kits to benefit 150 children Information Officer, OCHA-New York: +1 917 367 under five years. 5126, +1 917 892 1679 (mobile), [email protected];
Elisabeth Byrs, Public Information Officer, OCHA- 21. PLAN International is assisting in the medical Geneva: +41 22 917 2653, [email protected]. referral of patients to the Central Hospital in Tororo, while regular medical care is being provided at the Health Centre IV in Mulanda. Save the Children provided mattresses and blankets to the Health Centre.
22. World Vision reports that it has provided assorted drugs, firewood, food aid and paraffin as part of its response to the current situation, in addition to its support for improved sanitation facilities at Mulanda.
Other Assistance 23. The NGOs GOAL and FOCREV have finished the cleaning and emptying of latrines at Busia Integrated Primary School ahead of the new school year set to begin in February 2008.
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