{"id":13755,"date":"2021-06-09T14:56:16","date_gmt":"2021-06-09T12:56:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ruralis.no\/2021\/05\/18\/korona-gir-mer-sult-blant-flyktninger\/"},"modified":"2021-06-09T14:56:41","modified_gmt":"2021-06-09T12:56:41","slug":"korona-gir-mer-sult-blant-flyktninger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ruralis.no\/en\/2021\/06\/09\/korona-gir-mer-sult-blant-flyktninger\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 intensifies hunger among refugees"},"content":{"rendered":"

Refugees are often the most vulnerable to crises, no matter where in the world they are. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expects that the corona pandemic will weaken food security for refugees and internally displaced persons.<\/p>\n

Cuts rations by 40 percent<\/h2>\n

Uganda is home to about 1.4 million refugees and is thus among the three countries in the world that receive the highest number. A new report from Ruralis shows how the pandemic has affected food security and nutrition for refugees and locals in the Adjumani district of northern Uganda. Measures to control the spread of COVID-19 have negatively affected food markets, sending food prices skyrocketing while disrupting supply lines, reducing support for the World Food Organization, and resulting in food ration cuts of up to 40 per cent.<\/p>\n

\u2013 We see that food security for refugees and locals has worsened dramatically during the pandemic. When those who qualify for full rations now get 6 kg of corn, 2 kg of beans and 1 liter of cooking oil to manage for a whole month, one easily understands how nine out of ten refugees get far too little food, says senior researcher Anne Margrethe Brigham at Ruralis.<\/p>\n

Access, availability and agency<\/h2>\n

Together with Ruralis colleague Sarah Khasalamwa-Mwandha, as well as Paul Isolo Mukwaya and Geofrey Gabiri from Makerere and Kyambogo universities in Kampala, respectively, she released the report\u00a0The Corona Pandemic\u2019s Impact on the Food and Nutrition Security of Refugees in Northern Uganda<\/a>. Researchers have shed light on different dimensions of food security before and during the pandemic \u2013 access to food, availability of food, nutrition and agency \u2013 and have analyzed the changes brought about by the crisis.<\/p>\n

The results are based on a survey among 639 households in refugee camps and nearby communities. In addition, 15 people with key roles in the refugee community were interviewed. Due to the pandemic, the field work had to be carried out with the help of local research assistants.<\/p>\n

79 million displaced<\/h2>\n

Worldwide there are now more than 79 million refugees and internally displaced persons, around 80 per cent of which live in countries affected by hunger and malnutrition. In Africa, Uganda is the country that receives the most refugees. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expects that the COVID-19 pandemic will worsen food security for refugees and internally displaced persons.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo matter where they are in the world, refugees are often the ones who are most vulnerable to crises,\u201d Brigham said. She points to three main reasons why food security has become so much worse for the refugees in Adjumani.<\/p>\n