U.N, Uganda appeal for emergency refugee food aid

The UN and the Ugandan government launched an emergency aid appeal for accelerating donor contributions to help the nearly 600,000 refugees in Uganda.

These calls follow UN’s decision to reduce food rations to some 200,000 refugees by 50%, following an influx of South Sudanese refugees. Uganda is currently hosting nearly 310,000 South Sudanese refugees, who have fled the recent violence in their country.

In July, clashes between the South Sudan government and opposition forces took place in Juba, leaving 272 people dead. The security situation has significantly deteriorated since then, reports XinHua.

According to the UN, more than 70,000 people have been prompted to cross the border to Uganda after the renewed fighting, which placed much burden on the already under-funded humanitarian response on the ground, the agency further reports.