Skip to main content

Uganda Refugee Response Monitoring Settlement Fact Sheet: Oliji (June 2018)

Countries
Uganda
+ 1 more
Sources
Govt. Uganda
+ 2 more
Publication date
Origin
View original

Oliji settlement was established on 1 January 1991 in Adjumani district hosting primarily South Sudanese refugees fleeing the Second Sudanese War that broke out in the 1980s as well as the newer wave of South Sudanese refugees fleeing civil war in South Sudan since 2013. Oliji hosts over 1,500 refugees, and provides beneficiaries with both humanitarian and development assistance, however major challenges and gaps in services remain.

Gaps & Challenges

Health services are insufficient to meet the needs of the population. Oliji settlement shares one health centre with Alere where refugees have reported overcrowding, insufficient medication and misdiagnosis. Persons with special needs (PSNs) or with chronic illnesses are still waiting on appropriate diagnosis and treatment, and refugees stated language barriers to be a major issue. In addition, patients have been referred as far as Kampala or Gulu for treatment where they have complained of poor quality and expensive treatment that has exacerbated illness and increased anxiety.

FGD participants reported that food distribution are deterioating in quality, refugees are experiencing distribution delays, and food is being of limited nutritional diversity. Subsequently, nutrition issues have particularly affected PSNs and children.

The major connecting road from Pakele has severely deteriorated, with a key bridge collapsing during the last rain season. This has caused delays in services and distributions as large vehicles and emergency services have been unable to access the settlement.

Education services lack adequate teaching materials, staff and a feeding programme, with parents having to collectively pay for porridge to feed pupils. This contributes to the already high tuition costs. Low enrolment in secondary education due to increased tuition costs and access issues is a key challenge to adolescence school enrolment.

Shelters that were constructed at the formation of the settlement in 1991 have rarely been rehabilitated, leading many to become severely dilapidated. Lacking the capacity to make structural repairs themselves, PSNs are the most affected for the poor shelter quality.

There are limited income generating activities in the settlement, with refugees stating a lack of capital, a lack of affordable high quality inputs, limited access to vocational trainings and depleted soil quality, which have led to limited success in cultivation practices. The livelihood support that has been provided, is not offered to the host community which has further exacerbated tensions.

Many non-food items (NFIs) such as jerry cans, sauce pans and mattresses were distributed over 20 years ago, and are now requiring urgent replacement as they become unusable.