Uganda gets the attention of Germany’s Foreign Minister as he plans a trip to meet aid workers and refugees to understand the critical situation
Germany Federal Foreign Office, in a report, analysed that War and Starvation have driven more than 1.3 million people from South Sudan across the border to Uganda. The neighboring country’s willingness to help has so far managed to prevent an even greater migration crisis. This is why Foreign Minister Gabriel wants to provide even more support to the country before it is too late.
Foreign Minister Gabriel will be travelling to one of the world’s most important hot spots for refugees, displaced persons and migrants in Africa. According to reports, Uganda as been marked as the site of the third largest refugee crisis in the world. Up to 2000 people per day, established from records, pour across the border to Uganda from South Sudan, fleeing brutal fighting and severe droughts.
Uganda does not only take in a large number of refugees, but over time as served as role model as regards their integration. Refugees only spend a short period of time in refugee camps in Uganda. They can move freely around the country, are allowed to work and are even allocated a plot of land.
As Uganda keeps up with this good humanitarian service, unrelentingly doing its utmost to integrate refugees. It is however worthy of note that Uganda has pressing problems of its own. Youth unemployment has been growing ever higher for years and drought destroyed a large part of the harvest in the spring. Therefore, it is pertinent to equally note that Uganda urgently needs more support from the international community in order to be able to continue taking in people fleeing from South Sudan.
In recent concerns, the situation in Uganda shows that the international community must provide support at an early stage so that regional refugee movements do not become global migration crises. Neighboring countries that help refugees must not be left to cope with the situation on their own. Thus, Foreign Minister Gabriel wants to encourage a new approach.
Gabriel will travel directly from the refugee settlement to the capital Kampala, where he will meet President Museveni. The agenda for their talks will include the human rights situation and freedom of the press.
Reporter: Ridwan A Olayiwola
