Analysis of refugee settlement burden on the host community : a case study of Arua district

Abstract

Though international organizations have fought towards provision of refugees with settlements, the effects of refugees on the wellbeing of the host community are alarming. This study thus intended to assess the impact of the refugee settlement on the host community. The study was conducted basing on the following specific objectives; to examine the influence of refugee settlement on the economic activities of the host community, to find out the effects of refugee settlement on the environment of host community and to examine the social implication of refugee settlement on the host community. This study adopted a cross sectional research design in which qualitative approach was used to obtain documents with information on refugee settlement on host community. A document review checklist was used as a major instrument of data collection. Data was analyzed using content analysis and information was obtained from journals, articles and reports concerning refugee settlement on the host communities. It was concluded that the major economic effect of refugee settlement in Arua district is that it has led to competition for the available scarce resources which leads to high the cost of goods and services such as medication, food and transport which goes high due to refugee settlement. The major environmental effect of refugee settlement in Arua district is land degradation which emanates from increased cutting down of trees by refugees in search for firewood and charcoal for survival. The major effect the refugee settlement on the social relations of the host communities such as Arua district is communication and social interaction which roots from lack of a common language of communication as refugees come from their home with their languages which are not known by the local people. It was recommended that the Uganda government should reform refugee camp policies which necessarily defend the social and economic condition of the local communities who are living around the camps. Ugandan government should control the local youths who have got addicted to drug use which makes them get engaged in criminal activities that destabilize communities.