WFP says over 7,700 Burundian refugees cross into Uganda

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) on Thursday said over 7,700 Burundian refugees have fled into Uganda since November last year.

The food aid agency in a statement issued here said since June 1 this year, the refugees have been flocking into the country at approximately 144 persons per day.

"The refugees are arriving through the Uganda-Tanzania border or through Kisoro district. The majority of them are arriving in good health but in need of immediate food assistance," the situation report issued by the food aid agency said.

The agency said the Ugandan government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees are reviewing the interagency contingency planning figure of 15,000 refugees till the end of 2015. This figure includes the 12,000 refugees that lived in the southwest settlements in Uganda prior to the new inflow.

WFP said new funding will be required for the latter part of this year in order to sustain operations.

"WFP is able to assist the new arrivals within the current level of resourcing for all refugees in the country. Providing food and nutrition assistance to 15,000 Burundian refugees for the next 12 months from June 2015 will cost WFP 2.5 million U.S. dollars," the agency said.

The refugees are fleeing from the crisis back home where there have been protests against the country's President Pierre Nkurunziza running for another term. Endi