HIGHLIGHTS
15,562 South Sudanese people have fled to Uganda from 9th September to 13th September 2016, the vast majority of whom are using the border crossing points in to Arua district. Refugees are increasingly using a number of informal border crossing points, particularly in Busia, Angili and Chakulia. Refugees are reportedly using these new border crossing points to avoid confrontation with armed groups.
There has been a significant increase in the rate of new arrivals during the last seven days. 24,814 people arrived in the last week, compared to 18,703 and 17,133 in the previous two weeks. More people crossed in to Arua district this week than at any point since the recent post-7 th July influx began.
In Bidibidi, the mass nutrition (MUAC) screening data analysis was concluded on September 10. 262 (5.6%) of the 4,683 children aged between 6 to 59 months screened were found to be acutely malnourished. Of these 54 (1.2%) were severely malnourished and 208 (4.4%) were moderately malnourished. 652 children were assessed at Oraba, Kuluba, Busia and Ocea. Among these, 20 children were diagnosed with malnutrition of which 13 were found to be suffering from Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) and 7 with Severe Acute Malnutrition (MAM). The Global Acute Malnutrition rate was low overall at 3.07%. Both the SAM and MAM rates were also low at 1.07% and 2% respectively.
440 people with specific needs, such as the elderly, disabled, orphans, amongst others, were identified amongst new arrivals in Oraba, Busia, Kuluba and Ocea.
These included 159 children not accompanied by any relatives and 134 children who have been separated from their parents. Best Interest Assessments are being conducted and are ongoing to identify the most appropriate protection response for these children, while others are being provided with specialized care, such as psycho-social support.In Bidibidi, 7 sites have been identified for the construction of Early Childhood Care and Development Centres. 2 out of 7 have already been constructed and are operational. 1,248 children have been enrolled in these two centres. 48 caregivers were recruited, out of which 24 are refugees. The Centre Management Committee has been formed with 6 out of 10 members being refugees and 4 nationals from the host community.
16,304 refugees were relocated from Adjumani, Arua, Moyo and Kiryandongo to Bidibidi settlement in Yumbe, bringing the total refugee population in Yumbe to more than 72,000 refugees. Efforts are underway to develop a deeper understanding of the maximum number of refugees Bidibidi settlement could potentially hold.
UPDATE ON SITUATION
- In Adjumani, new arrivals continue to report that the security situation in Eastern Equatoria is worsening due to activities by armed groups, particularly in Magwi, Pajok and Pageri. They report widespread incidents of looting, abduction of boys and young men and generalized violence against civilians. There are also reports of unknown gun men killing people during the night. Ongoing fighting between government and rebel forces has reportedly caused difficulties in using roads and access routes. New arrivals in Arua report fighting across Eastern, Central and Western Equatoria, compounded by the breakdown of public services and the harassment of civilian populations by armed groups.
- 3,127 individuals were medically screened. Among them 2,578 children over 1 year old received de-worming tables and 2,594 children were immunized. Medical screening has started in all entry points to expedite the process of transfer of refugees to Bidibidi settlement.
- In Bidibidi, one Child Protection committee and 1 foster care network has been established and were sensitized about their roles and responsibilities.
- In Nyumanzi, a total of 25 fire extinguishers were installed. Training is to be conducted for security staff and transit centre staff.
- In a bid to decongest Ocea Reception Centre, 843 individuals were relocated from Ocea Reception Centre to villages within Rhino Refugee Settlement.
- In Bidibidi, 78 partner staff have been trained on the Code of Conduct and Prevention of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (PSEA); trainings will continue for new recruits.
- In Bidibidi, community outreach volunteers conducted 9 outreach activities reaching 387 individuals. Another 29 members of women’s groups were trained on SGBV prevention and response in the last week.
- 7 Refugee Welfare Councils (RWC) have been established in 7 blocks in Bidibidi settlement with each RWC having 20 members; a total of 140 members including men and women. A Leadership Training for the RWCs commenced on Monday 12 September to ensure better understanding of roles and responsibilities and strengthen linkages with OPM, UNHCR and partners within the settlement.
- Efforts are ongoing to implement peaceful coexistence initiatives to promote tolerance for both refugee and host community populations through dialogue, information sessions/sensitization, mediation and possible joint livelihoods and income-generating activities.
- Two primary schools are being built in Bidibidi. Each school will have 9 classrooms for primary Levels 1-9 and will be able to accommodate up to 900 children. Classes are set to start in 2-3 weeks while information dissemination and registration of children is ongoing. Teachers are being hired in coordination with Yumbe Education District Committee. Advertisements for the hiring of teachers have been posted in several locations including amongst the host community and settlement. Eighty teachers will be hired for the new schools, and an additional 16 teachers will be hired for the 4 existing schools that will also be accessible to refugees.
- In Bidibidi, around 500 consultations are being seen to by medical professionals every day, with approximately 27% of those comprised from the host population. The leading causes of illness are malaria (49%), Respiratory Tract Infections / RTI (19%) followed by Acute Watery Diarrhea/AWD (7%).
- In Bidibidi, the crude mortality rate is 0.1 deaths/10,000/day, below the emergency threshold.
- There is an outbreak of acute watery diarrhea (AWD) in Bidibidi with a cumulative number of 52 refugees affected. All patients with AWD were discharged after undergoing successful treatment and no new cases have been reported since 3 September 2016. Current response mechanisms include social mobilization, active case identification, surveillance, case management, infection control measures, and follow up of patients/contacts at community level.
- Efforts are underway to establish a heath facility in Bidibidi settlement Zone 2. An outreach mobile clinic is in place as a temporary measure.
- Decentralization of nutrition services in Bidibidi is ongoing. This is being carried out to ensure access to the increasing numbers of refugees residing in the area. Outpatient and targeted supplementary feeding care is currently being provided at 3 health posts in Zone 1. An outreach service is being provided in Zone 2 as a temporary measure until longer term facilities are put in place.
- In Bidibidi, the construction of temporary communal latrines showers and washrooms is ongoing. The number of persons per latrine now stands at 1:42 and the number of persons per bathing facility at 1:254 in Zone 1. In Zone 2, construction has begun on blocks of latrines, showers and hand-washing stations with soap. 134 blocks of latrines have been completed with many more under construction to be completed next week.
- In Bidibidi Zone 1, 530,000 litres of water have been distributed to 41 locations where plastic storage tanks with a capacity of 10,000 litres each are installed. Twenty boreholes have been drilled, ten of which are fully installed and currently operational. Three high-yielding boreholes have been motorized to provide water to the Bidibidi reception centre and health facility. The average provision of water in Zone 1 is 14 l/p/d; hand-washing facilities at the communal latrines are at 87% coverage in zone 1. In Zone 2, four tanks of 10m3 have been installed with an average distribution of 4 l/p/d. More tanks and 2 additional water trucks will start operation in the next few days. Assessment of 2 new potentially high-yield sites for boreholes has been completed and plans are underway to drill new boreholes.
- In Bidibidi, around 10km of road construction has been completed. Street names and signs have been installed on major road networks.
- In Bidibidi Zone 1, the site for a ‘SGBV safe house’ has been demarcated and construction will begin shortly.
- Construction of additional shelters is ongoing to increase the capacity of the reception centre in Bidibidi to 6,000 individuals. There is a need to improve lighting in the centre to help with assisting refugees who arrive in the evenings.