Thousands of South Sudan refugees in Uganda to benefit from UNHCR aid operation
Thousands of South Sudanese refugees fleeing human rights violations in their country have begun benefiting from a major aid operation undertaken by the UN refugee agency in Uganda.
A Boeing 747 plane arrived in Entebbe on Sunday morning carrying more than 100 tonnes of emergency and relief supplies.
Basic necessities such as mosquito nets, sleeping mats, plastic sheeting, kitchen sets and solar lights arrived on the plane, and are set to be delivered to refugee settlement areas in Adjumani, Arua and Kiryandongo districts, as well as to those residing in the newly opened Bidibidi settlement in Yumbe.
This shipment comes a few days after the number of South Sudanese refugees who have fled to neighbouring countries passed the one million mark.
“The people of South Sudan are suffering, as we’ve seen by the record numbers that have fled to Uganda and other neighbouring countries in recent weeks,” said UNHCR’s acting Representative to Uganda, Bornwell Kantande.
South Sudan was seen to be on track to regaining peace following the March return of Riek Machar to the capital Juba, but violence rocked the capital once again in July when forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those loyal to Machar clashed just outside the presidential palace.
