10 months after fresh violence erupted in South Sudan, a famine produced by the vicious combination of fighting and drought is now driving the world’s fastest growing refugee crisis.

 Uganda currently hosts more than 900,000 South Sudanese refugees. Among them are some 600,000 new arrivals who have poured into Uganda since July 2016. And thousands continue to arrive daily. With present rates, that figure will surpass a million before mid - 2017.86 % are women and children.
Uganda has one of the most progressive and exemplary refugee policies in the world. Upon receiving refugee status, the policy provides that refugees are provided with small areas of land in villages integrated within the local host community; a pioneering approach that enhances social cohesion and allows both refugees and host communities to live together peacefully. However, even the most welcoming policy has its limits. The unprecedented mass influx is increasingly placing enormous strain on public services, local infrastructure and environment. Land allocations are limited.
Humanitarian response faces chronic and severe under-funding. Lack of livelihood activities and education, sustainable water supply and environmental degradation are among the biggest development challenges.

Under the EU Emergency Trust Fund (EUTF), The Support Programme for Host Communities in the Northern Uganda (SPRS-NU) has been established in 2016. The overall objective of the action is to reduce the risk of violent conflict between host communities and refugees in the refugee-hosting districts of Northern Uganda, namely Adjumani, Arua, Kiryandongo and Yumbe.

This project, implemented by Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC), Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and NGO Consortium (led by the Danish Refugee Council), addresses the developmental needs of South Sudanese refugees and host communities in Northern Uganda. This is done through support to improving their living conditions by enhancing food security, inter community dialogue and conflict prevention, and provision of basic services such as education, water and sanitation.

This video shows both the situation in the Northern Uganda and how the €20 million SPRS programme in Northern Uganda, channeled through the EU Trust Fund for Africa, helps South Sudanese refugees and host communities.