KAMPALA, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The deputy chief of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has called for more international support to Uganda, which is grappling with an influx of 1.2 million refugees from neighboring countries.
Kelly Clements, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees in a statement issued late on Tuesday said although Uganda has made much effort in its refugee response, it still needs support.
"Uganda represents the Global Compact in action, but the country can't do it alone. More global support is needed, particularly in the areas of education, economic opportunities and the environment," she said after conclusion of her five-day visit to the east African country.
According to UNHCR figures, more than half of refugee children, and over one third of Ugandan children in refugee hosting areas, are out of school.
"We all want to prevent a generation of young people from being lost because they feel the future holds so little for them," Clements said.
She announced that UNHCR would re-allocate 100,000 U.S. dollars to ensure young students can continue studying in secondary school in the Palorinya refugee settlement, in northwestern Uganda.
The funds will cover school fees for more than 500 refugee and Ugandan youth who cannot afford to stay in school.
The support, according to the refugee agency, will also help improve conditions in secondary schools and provide small, but critical supplies that can affect school attendance, like sanitary pads for female students.
Uganda hosts refugees from South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Somalia and Rwanda, who are living across 30 settlements and in the capital Kampala.
