West Nile refugees - strengthening protection and resilience through humanitarian support

Uganda is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis driven by climate shocks, large-scale refugee displacement, food insecurity, and increasing vulnerability among refugees and host communities, particularly in Karamoja and West Nile. In response, a US$75 million allocation from the United States to the Uganda Humanitarian Fund (UHF) has been distributed among three UN agencies and six international NGOs to deliver prioritized, lifesaving assistance in areas with the greatest needs. 

The allocation is coordinated by the United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office (RCO) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), with a focus on addressing malnutrition in Karamoja and supporting refugees and host communities in the Western and Northern regions and Kampala. The funding is supporting critical sectors including food security, health, nutrition, protection, shelter, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), while also advancing the Humanitarian Reset through more coordinated, efficient, accountable, multisectoral, and locally driven action to maximize the impact of limited resources.

From 9–20 August, the OCHA Uganda-Kenya team together with the RCO, conducted a monitoring mission across Karamoja and West Nile to assess the impact of Uganda Humanitarian Fund (UHF)-supported projects. In West Nile, the team travelled through Palabek, Adjumani, Yumbe and Arua, visiting refugee settlements and reception centres and meeting district leaders, refugees and humanitarian partners. The mission highlighted how organizations including International Rescue Committee (IRC), Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and Danish Rescue Committee (DRC), working alongside government teams, are helping communities facing food insecurity, malnutrition, climate shocks and protection risks.

Palabek – 13 August

Women's Safe Spaces and Protection Services

Palabek, Uganda’s youngest refugee settlement, has received no new arrivals since June due to border restrictions linked to the Ebola outbreak. With an estimated 80 per cent of beneficiaries of some services being women, partners are providing critical protection, livelihoods, WASH and psychosocial support. At a women’s safe space in Zone 8, women described the centre as a place where they can seek counselling, report violence, receive referrals and access basic items such as soap, clothing and food. The centre also supports girls who miss school during menstruation by providing sanitary materials.

For Betty, a new arrival with no relatives in the settlement, the centre has provided more than material assistance. “I was stressed and could not sleep. I came here for counselling. I feel safe now,” she said. Women identified several gaps, including the lack of water at the centre, poor latrine conditions and the need for fencing to improve security.

WASH and Community Protection

LWF is constructing household latrines and supporting hygiene promotion, particularly for people with disabilities, older people and other extremely vulnerable individuals. However, residents reported severe water shortages, with only one borehole serving hundreds of households in parts of Zone 8. Long queues can mean spending several hours collecting water.

Community-based protection structures are also playing an important role. Paralegals, community volunteers, psychosocial workers and GBV activists identify cases, provide basic support and refer more serious cases to specialised services. In June and July alone, two paralegals reported handling more than 30 community cases. Despite their contribution, volunteers highlighted transport challenges and the need for additional training.

“Our work is about keeping children safe, supporting their wellbeing, and making sure families have the basics they need.” Felix Polyojara, Child Protection Officer, IRC

Adjumani – 14 August

Reception and Protection for New arrivals

Adjumani hosts 19 refugee settlements and continues to provide life-saving assistance despite significant funding gaps. At the Nyumanzi reception centre, newly arrived refugees receive hot meals, accommodation, registration and protection screening, as well as psychosocial, health, GBV and child protection services. Although the centre was designed for stays of up to 72 hours, some people remain for as long as three weeks while awaiting onward movement. The centre currently accommodates around 800 people, with additional facilities under construction that will increase capacity. IRC child protection teams conduct rapid assessments and provide individual support to children arriving without caregivers. Since April, 83 unaccompanied or separated children have been identified as having relatives such as aunts or uncles, while seven had no known relatives.

Women and girls’ safe spaces

In Pagirinya settlement, women and girls can access psychosocial support, counselling, referrals and activities including baking, liquid soap-making and beadwork. Women said the centre has become an important place to share experiences and rebuild social connections. Women also highlighted the need for additional livelihood skills, including tailoring and sewing, and play materials for children accompanying them to the centre.

Community Feedback and Accountability

Protection desks in Boroli settlements receive and document community complaints, refer cases to specialised partners and follow up on responses. Food assistance remains the most common concern, accounting for around seven in ten complaints reported at the desk. Community volunteers have been trained to respond to complaints and help people understand available services. Protection cases are generally referred within a few days, depending on their nature.

Yumbe – 17 August

Established in 2016, Bidi Bidi is one of Uganda’s largest refugee settlements, covering around 250 square kilometres and hosting a large refugee population. As humanitarian funding declines, partners are increasingly supporting communities to move from emergency protection towards livelihoods and greater self-reliance. However, challenges remain, including limited access to land, food insecurity and heavy workloads for caseworkers.

Supporting Caregivers and Children

Parenting and caregiver sessions are helping refugees strengthen their knowledge of child rights, child health and positive parenting. Participants said the sessions have helped them manage stress and emotions, communicate better with their children and understand their responsibilities as caregivers. One participant living with a disability said the training had changed how she viewed and interacted with other people with disabilities.

Cash Assistance for Critical Needs

Cash assistance has helped vulnerable families meet urgent needs including food, education, shelter and health care.

For 21-year-old Susan Aniba, support from DRC enabled her to return to school after she had feared her education was over. “At a time when I had lost hope and thought my education was finished, DRC gave me a chance to continue school. I am now determined to finish my studies, start a business and build a better future for myself.”
 

Community leaders strengthening peaceful dispute resolution at Imvepi Refugee Settlement

In Imvepi settlement, humanitarian support is helping community leaders develop skills to resolve disputes peacefully and strengthen protection at community level. Thirty leaders received training in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), mediation and child protection. They now support communities in resolving disputes between refugees and host communities while referring serious protection cases, including rape, to specialised services. Leaders said the training has strengthened their ability to understand cases, remain neutral and mediate fairly. They also committed to passing their knowledge to others, including if they are not re-elected in forthcoming community elections. Participants called for further training to reach villages that were not represented in the initial sessions.
 

Cash assistance helping families recover

Cash support is helping families meet immediate needs while also investing in small livelihoods.

• “The support has helped me move from a very difficult situation to being able to provide food, clothes and basic needs for my children.” Selena Jengaa
• “The money has helped me start a small business by buying two piglets and two chickens, giving me a way to support my family.” Felix Lupai.
• “The cash support has helped us buy milk for the baby, pay school fees and buy goats, mattresses and uniforms. It has made a big difference for our family.” Tiu Kenzia

Women and girls building skills and support networks

At a women and girls’ safe space, women affected by GBV, loss and other challenges access counselling, peer support and livelihood skills including tailoring, hairdressing, baking and soap-making. Women said counselling has helped them manage stress and anger, while skills training has given them confidence to explore ways of earning an income. The centre has also helped women establish a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), enabling participants to save together and invest in small businesses. However, a broken water supply is limiting activities such as soap-making. Women also requested stronger fencing and an additional safe space to reach villages currently without access.

Looking ahead

The monitoring mission highlighted the importance of flexible, timely and sustained humanitarian funding to maintain essential services while strengthening community resilience. Across West Nile, refugees and host communities continue to face food insecurity, limited access to water and land, protection risks and reduced humanitarian assistance. At the same time, community-led structures, from women’s safe spaces and protection desks to trained paralegals, volunteers and community leaders, are demonstrating how locally rooted solutions can strengthen protection and resilience. As humanitarian needs continue to evolve, partners emphasised the need to maintain critical protection and basic services while investing in livelihoods, skills, accountability and peaceful coexistence between refugee and host communities.