Statement at Press Conference on Japan's contribution of US$ 4.3 million to support efforts towards refugees and host communities, and Karamoja response

Acknowledgements:

• The Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness, Relief and Refugees, Hon. Lillian Aber
• The Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Uganda, His Excellency Sasayama Takuya
• Colleagues from UNHCR, UNFPA and WFP
• Media Representatives

On behalf of the UN Family in Uganda, I am delighted to witness this subsequent announcement of a contribution from the Government of Japan to Uganda, as part of long-standing partnerships for sustainable development. Japan Supplementary Budget allocations have significantly contributed to UN’s work in previous years, and the fresh contribution announced today of US$ 4.3 million will support vulnerable refugee and host communities as well as people in Karamoja sub-region.

I would like to applaud the Government and People of Japan for this valuable contribution to sustaining support to refugee and host communities. Japan’s commitment to Leaving No One Behind by focusing on vulnerable people in need of food and nutrition assistance in Karamoja is admirable. Japan’s sustained investment in support of people in need in Uganda, speaks to its global leadership on responsibility sharing and the sustainable development goals (SDGs). 

Japan is one of the critical partners for the Government of Uganda, the United Nations and indeed for the Continent of Africa. Japan’s contribution to the development of Africa is demonstrated in the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) meetings in partnership with the United Nations. As underlined by the TICAD 8 Summit in Tunis in 2022, “Investment in People” has become the most urgent and important. 

TICAD 8 declaration also emphasized investment partnerships for strengthening food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture, food systems and value chains, education and health, disaster risk reduction, and climate change actions. I believe that such investment partnerships will take countries far in realizing their collective development aspirations, changing positively the lives of the most vulnerable of population irrespective of their location in the world. The United Nations with this partnership with Japan, remains committed to the development of Uganda and Africa.

The contribution from Japan will allow the UN system to collectively support 1.5 million refugee hosting settlements in Northern and South-Western regions of Uganda for the next twelve (12) months, through lifesaving assistance to refugees provided by UNHCR and UNFPA. In addition, allocations through WFP will ensure nutrition support to the most vulnerable mother and children in Karamoja. 

The assistance will help meet the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees (GRC) through the implementation of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) in Uganda, a whole-of-society approach which, under the Government of the Republic of Uganda’s leadership, rallies support among a wide range of stakeholders including UN agencies, International Financial Institutions (IFIs), development and humanitarian partners and the private sector to improve delivery of services for refugees and the communities hosting them.

Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to mention a few areas this assistance will focus on: 

UNHCR will provide comprehensive assistance services to refugees and their host communities, with a focus on addressing immediate health and food security needs, promoting self-reliance, and providing children and women with humanitarian assistance. Enhancing protection and safety for refugees, including child protection and prevention of gender-based violence; improving access to quality healthcare services; and strengthening livelihood opportunities for refugees and their economic inclusion will be the focus of UNHCR intervention.

UNFPA will focus on providing quality integrated SRHR (Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights) and GBV (Gender Based Violence) services with an effort to reduce maternal deaths and GBV prevalence among the newly arriving refugees and other persons affected by disaster and epidemics. Underfunded refugee settlements in the districts of West Nile, Acholi & Southwestern and other disaster-prone districts in Eastern and Western Uganda will be covered by UNFPA provided services. 

WFP's nutrition interventions of specialized nutritious foods will aim to reduce prevalence of malnutrition in Moroto and Nabilatuk districts in Karamoja. WFP’s work is expected to benefit 5000 pregnant and breastfeeding women and children below five years.

This new allocation from Japan demonstrates strong commitment of Japan to Uganda’s human capital development and sustainable development objectives. The UN Family in Uganda is committed to continued collaboration and leveraging new partnerships in our collective efforts towards the SDGs acceleration. 

Thank you.