East Africa Refugee Crisis: Aid Cuts & Rising Danger
- Adjumani, Uganda – Lindiro Jane, a South Sudanese refugee, has twice fled war, first arriving in Uganda's Pagirinya Refugee Resettlement Camp in 2016.
- Encouraged by reports of improved safety and even some ugandan officials,Lindiro returned to South Sudan.
- “It was a lie,” Lindiro said, referring to assurances of safety.
East Africa faces an intensifying refugee crisis as aid cuts force South Sudanese refugees to return home, despite ongoing dangers. Declining international support leaves Uganda, hosting nearly 2 million refugees, struggling to provide basic necessities. Many refugees are forced to make a harrowing choice between hunger in exile and the risk of returning to conflict zones in South Sudan. The shrinking budget of UNHCR and the World food Programme are compounding malnutrition among refugees. News Directory 3 reports on the rising rates of malnutrition exceeding emergency levels, health center closures, and the government’s efforts to promote refugee self-reliance. Discover what’s next for these vulnerable populations.
Uganda Refugee Crisis Deepens as Aid Cuts Force Returns to Danger
Adjumani, Uganda – Lindiro Jane, a South Sudanese refugee, has twice fled war, first arriving in Uganda’s Pagirinya Refugee Resettlement Camp in 2016. Initially, the World Food program provided about $9 per person monthly, which helped her family survive. Though, dwindling donor funds due to global crises have slashed aid to a mere $3.50 per person, an insufficient amount.
Encouraged by reports of improved safety and even some ugandan officials,Lindiro returned to South Sudan. For five months, her family farmed sorghum and maize, achieving a sense of control. But one October morning, gunfire shattered the peace. Returning home, she found her neighbors dead.
“It was a lie,” Lindiro said, referring to assurances of safety.
Her family once again sought refuge in Pagirinya, abandoning their crops. Further exacerbating the situation, aid was cut again. Families now receive only $2 per person monthly, with potential for complete cessation as donor funding for refugees continues to shrink.
Across East africa,many South Sudanese refugees face a similar dilemma: danger at home versus hunger in exile.Uganda, hosting approximately 1.8 million refugees, is struggling with declining international support even as insecurity persists in neighboring countries.
Since a 2018 peace deal in South Sudan, over 390,000 refugees have returned from Uganda, often driven by the reduction in aid. However, they encounter renewed conflict and a lack of essential services, forcing some to return to the camps.
The UNHCR’s budget in Uganda has decreased from nearly $220 million in 2017 to $141 million by the end of 2023, despite a growing refugee population. This year, the agency has secured only 17% of its 2025 budget, threatening core services.
Marcus Prior, acting country director for the WFP in Uganda, noted a $50 million funding shortfall for 2025.The WFP has already reduced its support to 663,000 refugees, potentially cutting off nearly one million peopel from aid. Malnutrition rates have surged to 21.5% between March and May 2025,exceeding emergency thresholds.
A UNHCR report indicates that nine children under five have died from malnutrition since January. Health centers have closed, and hundreds of health workers and caregivers have been laid off.
Despite these dire conditions, Uganda continues to receive new arrivals from the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Sudan. Transit and reception centers are overwhelmed, some operating at six times their intended capacity. In 2025 alone, Uganda has received approximately 90,000 new refugees.
Carol Sparks, UNHCR head of external relations, strategic partnerships and communications in Uganda, said settlements will continue to accept new arrivals, but growing pressure could trigger a crisis without adequate support.
Rose Foni, a South Sudanese refugee who returned to Pagirinya Camp after renewed fighting, fears the consequences if Uganda is left to cope alone. Other donors are also reducing aid, with the UK planning to cut its aid spending to 0.3% of its gross general income by 2027.
Jogo Titus, a regional refugee desk officer, said the government aims to promote refugee self-reliance by encouraging local communities to rent land to refugees at subsidized rates. Though, disputes and affordability remain challenges