Some 700 refugees, mostly women and children, are crossing from South Sudan into northern Uganda each day to escape violence and insecurity. Since the conflict started in mid-December, more than 45,000 South Sudanese have arrived. Many come from the city of Bor, in Jonglei state, which has seen episodes of heavy fighting in recent weeks. The new arrivals in northern Uganda are settling in overcrowded refugee camps near the border. Heat and dust. Welcome to Dzaipi, in northern Uganda, 7 km from the South Sudanese border. The hundreds of people arriving each day have had long journeys to reach here. Most walked for four or five days from the South Sudanese city of Bor to the capital, Juba, then took a truck for several hours to reach the border crossing of Elegu, where they were registered as refugees and brought to Dzaipi, a small transit camp set up in Adjumani district to house the refugees temporarily. Already, the refugees have outgrown the space in the camp. Dzaipi transit camp was designed to accommodate 3,000 people, not 30,000, says Ruben Pottier, MSFs head of mission in Uganda. With 2,500 people arriving each day during the first three weeks, it was immediately overcrowded. People had to shelter under trees, or at best inside the building of the local school, without access to basics such as water, food, latrines or healthcare. Most of those crossing the border at Elegu are Dinkas, one of the main ethnic groups in South Sudan. Refugees from the Nuer ethnic group are mostly crossing into Uganda at Kaya, in neighbouring Arua district, and are settling in Ocea transit camp, where 10,000 refugees have already been registered. Few men are here Most of the refugees are women and children. It really strikes you, when you walk through the camp, how few men there are here, says Pottier. While some families managed to bring some belongings and a little money with them, others have nothing. People bring their ethnic divisions with them, says Pottier. We do see tensions between the two communities, especially around the water tanks. In Dzaipi transit camp, most refugees are Dinkas. The Dinka majority stopped the Nuers from fetching water from the tank, so another water tank had to be set up in the Nuer area of the camp. NORTHERN UGANDA IS AGAIN IN PANIC! Once Bitten Twice Shy
Posted on: Sat, 25 Jan 2014 10:42:44 +0000
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