South Sudan refugees and environmental degradation in Uganda

Abstract

The study sought to assess the effect of South Sudan refugees on the environment of Uganda. The objectives which guided the study were to: examine the impact of refugees on the environment where they have been settled, examine the relationship between refugees and environment and suggest better ways to resettle refugees without much harm to the environment. The study undertook a desk-based research methodology where only documents were to be reviewed and analyzed using thematic content analysis. Basing on the literature reviewed, the following were the findings: The major refugee impact on the environment is manifested by the pressure exerted to forests and vegetation. Displaced persons exert impact on forests and other vegetation which in turn impact on local communities; their engagement in deforestation is due to two main reasons: to meet their own survival needs for lumber to build shelter or for firewood, and to earn money through selling wood and charcoal in the local markets. It was concluded that environmental degradation and the associated resource depletion is one of the most important indicators of the relationship between refugees and the environment. It was concluded that one of the most useful ways of resettling refugees without harming the environment is through keep-per-capita consumption of fuel low, and to make fuel available from a wide area. It was recommended that there is need to educate refugees on fuel conserving technologies for cooking as a way of conserving the environment. There is also a need for tree planting campaigns in refugee settlements as this will help in promoting the conservation of the environmental natural resources. There is also a need to provide capital to refugee individuals that will help them to start up other alternative business ventures which will provide sources of income other than deforestation.