Summary: A start up DREF from IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund of CHF 170,000 was allocated on 11 February, 2014 to support Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) in delivering humanitarian assistance to 25,000 beneficiaries from South Sudan in refugee settlements across Arua and Adjumani districts of West Nile Sub Region of Northern Uganda. The background for the emergency is rooted in the escalation of armed conflict in the Republic of South Sudan from mid-December 2013.
An emergency appeal was launched on 11 February, 2014 seeking CHF 1,722,559 to support URCS in the emergency response to the influx of refugees from South Sudan.
Insecurity and violence that flared up following the armed conflict uprooted thousands of South Sudanese from their original homes, provoking mass population displacement within South Sudan with hundreds of thousands of the displaced seeking safe haven within the neighbouring countries. Uganda which shares a common border with South Sudan has received the bulk of the fleeing refugees with 74,511 refugees having been registered by Office of the Prime Minister as of 6 March, 2014. Although rigorous Diplomatic efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict continue to be chanted under the auspices of Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the African Union (AU) the number of refugees arriving in the operational area will continue to increase as the fighting and insecurity continue in many parts of South Sudan, despite the parties to the conflict signing a Peace Agreement. The emergency appeal was jointly prepared by URCS and the IFRC to support 25,000 refugees in dire need of emergency medical care, shelter, food, water and adequate sanitation facilities.
URCS, through its branches in Arua and Adjumani and with support from International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as part of response has been supporting the newly arrived refugees in the transit centres and settlements with Restoration Family Links (RFL) activities. The provision of RFL services has been complimented by support from the appeal through which URCS has rolled out hygiene promotion activities, registration of new arrivals, psychosocial support activities in the transit centres and settlements. Further support from the appeal has enabled the deployment of one full WatSan kit 5 with support from Norwegian Red Cross and two water treatment units with storage facilities from German Red Cross and activities to further prevention of communicable diseases with final touches on rolling out of emergency shelter provision and an ambulance for referrals.
The IFRC has deployed an Operations Support Unit composed of an Operations Support Delegate, a Logistics Delegate and a Project Accountant (to be recruited) for operational support and management of the operation. The role of the unit is to provide technical support to URCS in relation to current and potentially upcoming emergency operations, especially in the areas of finance and procurement. Norwegian Red Cross has deployed a WatSan delegate alongside WatSan Kit 5, while Swedish Red Cross has committed to deploy a delegate for one month to function as the Operations Support delegate during recruitment, whereas British Red Cross support with a Logistics Delegate.
The IFRC Operations Support Unit deployed to assist URCS with operational and financial management of the appeal, is in place at the national society’s head quarter in Kampala. British Red Cross is supporting the deployment of the Logistics Delegate for 6 month whereas Canadian Red Cross has deployed an Operation Support Delegate for 5 months. Norwegian Red Cross deployed a WatSan delegate for 3 weeks along with a WatSan Kit 5.