KAMPALA
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has described the situation of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda as "deplorable."
"The situation of refugees in Uganda, particularly the new arrivals from South Sudan, is deplorable," UNHCR Deputy Country Director Sakuri Atsumi told Anadolu Agency.
Uganda is currently home to 315,000 refugees from neighboring countries. Among these are 60,000 who fled from neighboring South Sudan who are currently in need of all sorts of assistance, especially food.
According to the office of Uganda's prime minister, registration statistics show that 65 percent of the new arrivals are under 18 years old.
Figures also show that 87 percent of the new arrivals, mainly from South Sudan's Jongeli State and capital Juba, are women and children.
South Sudanese refugees moved to Uganda's West Nile region after fighting broke out between government forces and rebels loyal to sacked South Sudanese vice-president Riek Machar.
More than 10,000 people have reportedly been killed and 400,000 others displaced in the ensuing violence.
Last week, the warring rivals signed an agreement in Addis Ababa – following weeks of talks – calling for a cessation of hostilities and, in principle, the release of political prisoners.
The World Food Program (WFP) is currently feeding the roughly 60,000 refugees who arrived from South Sudan over the course of last month.
"What we've done is prioritize this caseload – unfortunately, at the expense of those who arrived previously, particularly in 2012/13," Deputy Country Director Michael Dunford told AA.
"But it's a question as to what extent we are to continue to fundraise and how quickly we're able to ensure that all refugees are able to receive their full entitlement," he said.
The WFP is currently feeding almost 250,000 refugees in Uganda alone.
-Appeal-
The Ugandan government and the UNHCR have made passionate appeals to donor agencies in hopes of raising $86 million to handle the refugee crisis.
"What is quite critical right now is to try and make sure that the funding that is required is raised so that these agencies can respond to the situation," UNHCR official Atsumi said. "If nothing is done then the situation could get worse."
Ugandan State Minister for Disaster Preparedness and Refugees Musa Ecweru said the appeal had been issued after an assessment of the refugees' situation in the West Nile.
The money, the official said, would only cover a period of six months, from January to June 30.
Dunford, the WFP official, also has funding concerns and fears the situation could spiral out of control.
"We have to continue to provide reduced rations for the larger caseload, or, worst case scenario, at some point, we may need to reduce the overall rations for all refugees, including the most vulnerable, including those from South Sudan," Dunford told AA.
And that, he worries, could have a negative impact.
"We may start to see the levels of malnutrition and under-nutrition start to creep up," Dunford said. "The situation is challenging."
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