West Nile population is 256,036 (Adjumani 190,567, Arua 57,184 and Yumbe 8,285), and all refugees were individually registered manually and biometrically in RIMS (Ugandan government Refugee Information Management System). Of the total population, women and children account for 87 per cent (222,587). The verification exercise was conducted in both Adjumani and Arua in November and December 2015. It was completed successfully in all the 16 settlements in Adjumani and two settlements in Arua. 39,019 refugee ID cards (32,000 in Adjumani, 7,019 in Arua) were issued to all refugees who participated in the verification exercise of 16 years and above. In Arua, 907 children received short birth certificates in 2015. Among them, 41 children received official birth certificates in 2015. In Adjumani, 1070 children received short birth certificates (birth notification), and additional 2196 children were registered (but not yet issued short birth certificates).
The national average arrival rate for this year’s emergency influx from South Sudan has been 2082 refugees/day.
In 2015, 7802 (5,308 female and 2,494 male) People with Specific Needs were identified and assessed in West Nile of whom 1870 were from Arua while 5,939 from Adjumani. The Lutheran World Federation, the Danish Refugee Council and partners have constructed 588 PSN huts, supported 350 people with disability mobility appliance, and 3,011 people with clothes to help them live with dignity in the community.
Beneficiaries of livelihood support in agriculture and income generating activities (IGA) are both refugees and host community. Within the JICA funded PRiDe project for rice production, as of end 2015, 398 overall rice farmers were supported (50 per cent refugees, 50 per cent host community), field extension workers received advanced training, and a request for additional funding was submitted to JICA for FFS creation and post-harvest loss management (also following the District Production Officer attendance in a three-week specialized JICA course in Japan). In relation to the Koboko model, 92 per cent of supported households generated at least 50 per cent of expected yield of the various crops grown with 40 per cent able to generate income from vegetable production and 20 per cent of poultry reproduced. Interaction with Development Agencies for future support (JICA, International Trade Centre, Yunus Social Business, ACAV) was fulfilled.
Kiryandongo refugee population is over 66,369 (as of September 2016 statistics). Of the total population, women and children account for 85 per cent (56,374), out of which 34 per cent (19,233) are girls and women of reproductive age. Notable is the large family size with an average of 5 dependants. Besides this the 2015 People with Specific Needs (PSN) assessment, identified 1,270 PSNs in the extremely vulnerable category, since then additional PSNs continue to arrive (1 out of every 5 people), have been received and assisted.