March 2017 – Uganda hosts the largest number of refugees in Africa, approaching one million, with nearly one half of this total having arrived from South Sudan since July 2016. Overall, South Sudanese make up roughly two thirds of the refugee population in Uganda. The humanitarian response in northern Uganda has already been strained by the large population of South Sudanese refugees in past years. New settlements are being established but almost immediately reach full capacity, while service providers struggle to meet the most basic needs of the community. With no near end to the South Sudanese conflict in sight, the refugee population in Uganda is only expected to continue to grow. With GAC’s support, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency Canada (ADRA) is providing water and sanitation and protection support to an estimated 46,000 South Sudanese refugees and host community members living in the Yumbe district of Uganda.
The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved access to safe water and sanitation; and (2) improved access to protection services amongst South Sudanese refugees and host communities in Uganda. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved, suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or that are food insecure.