Impact of refugees on the host community in Ikafe Refugee Settlement, Yumbe District, Uganda

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of refugees in relation to the wellbeing and livelihood of the host community in Ikafe, Yumbe District. The specific objectives were to explore the social impact of refugees on the host community; examine the impact of refugees on the environment of the hosting area, and assess the impact of the refugees on the livelihood and development of the host community in Ikafe. A descriptive research design employing mainly a qualitative approach was adopted. The respondents were selected using purposive sampling. During analysis, data was organized around the different themes of the study. he study findings showed that the refugees' presence has had an undeniably positive impact on the host community in terms of social relations, livelihood and economic development. Construction work seen and visited, such as schools, clinics and water points, were done to very high standards. However, the initial benefit from the sudden refugee influx, which was mainly increased and improved access to basic services, increase in commercial activities and improvement of infrastructure, was eroded by the continued increase in the population. Eventually services became inadequate to cater for the large population and thus a large number of the Host Community were negatively affected as food insecurity increased and many facilities such as health and education were inadequate to cater for both the refugees and the host community. Due to the congestion and deplorable conditions in which they lived, the refugee presence was associated with an influx of diseases, such as malaria, meningitis, cholera, measles, and many others linked to worms, and yet at the same time it contributed to a shortage of drugs and medicine. Furthermore, schools were overcrowded, water and sanitation facilities were overstretched and teachers were overwhelmed. Safe drinking water and sanitation became a big problem with the settlement of the refugees because of the huge population of the refugees. Frustrations emanated in the host community due to difficulties in meeting their livelihood and this would often result into dispute with the refugees over land, barter trade and water points to mention but a few. The refugee influx also led to unprecedented overuse of the natural resources for shelter, agricultural purposes and animal grazing. Some of the key recommendations of the study included, but not limited to, the call on government and its development partners to strengthen the synergy between relief and evelopment in order to ensure resources are used effectively to meet the needs of the refugees as well as that of the Host Community; there is need to support extended coverage and quality of services; GoU and UNHCR should support increased access to livelihood support such as through financial and technical support to facilitate economic exchanges between the refugees and the Host Community; community-owned agro-forestry initiatives need to be established together with replanting of trees in order to curb the total destruction of the environment; GoU and UNHCR need to encourage and support sustainable employment of the youth in the Host Community; and the call on UNHCR and GoU to uphold the established facilities, such as the health units, roads and water points through regular maintenance, repair and restocking in order to continue to be of relevance to the beneficiaries.