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Uganda is hosting the first Refugee Solidarity Summit with the support of the United Nations to rally support for the over 1.3 million refugees in the country in the form donations, investments and innovative programmes.

The two-day Summit, which opens today, comes as the UN estimates that in just one year, largely due to an influx of people fleeing violence and instability in South Sudan, the refugee population in Uganda has more than doubled – from 500,000 to more than 1.25 million – making the country host to the world’s fastest growing refugee emergency, this according to the UN.

The summit will be hosted by Uganda;’s President Yoweri Museveni and the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Pictorial: Arrival of #UN Sec Gen @antonioguterres – Welcome to the #PearlOfAfrica where we move shoulder to shoulder #WithRefugees pic.twitter.com/gn5rlzsrxL

— Executive Destinations & Experiences Limited (EDX) (@EDXTravel) June 21, 2017

30 Heads of State and international donors are also expected to attend and will look to raise $2 billion to meet the humanitarian needs of refugees and to support the hosting communities over the next four years.

#Belgium stands by #Uganda. #UGsolidarity summit high on the agenda as @alexanderdecroo meets Min. Hilary Onek of @opmdpm. #WithRefugees pic.twitter.com/RlpzD74Klh

— Embassy of Belgium in Uganda (@BelgiumInUganda) June 21, 2017

Departure to Imvepi refugee settlement, Arua district. #UGSolidarity Conf on-going! And @eu_echo flight to Adjumani. pic.twitter.com/IZKNB1dsij

— Kristian Schmidt (@EUAmbSchmidt) June 22, 2017

The current funding does not cover the vast needs, the UN Office in Uganda underscored, and there is a risk that food rations might get cut.

Uganda has also opened its doors to refugees from Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia.

With an average of 2,000 new arrivals each day, the country needs urgent and robust support to deal with the refugee crisis, the UN reports