settling refugees in refugee hosting areas in uganda · these include walking longer distance to...

“The environmental impact of

settling refugees in refugee

hosting areas in Uganda”

September 20th, 2018

Kampala, Uganda

Study Objectives

• To assess the impact of settling refugees and their

energy use on the environment with emphasis on forests

and vegetation cover in the surrounding;

• To assess the impact of environmental changes and their

energy use on the livelihoods and well-being of refugees

and host communities (men, women & children);

• To prospectively examine existing and potential mitigation

measures against the misuses of energy conservation

and the continued deforestation and vegetation loss.

Centre for Research in Energy and Energy Conservation

College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology

Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda - www.creec.or.ug

Overview of

Study Area

5,392 study respondents

13 settlements

67% refugees : 33% host

49% male : 51% female

Study Demographics




Study Demographics




Majority, 46.9% female headed households

Satellite mapping

Findings




Kyangwali

Key issues and implications- Reductions in natural cover 2006, 2010, 2014- Increase in land use activities ( settlements, hunting

and farming activities)- Influx of refugees (Burundi, DRC, Rwanda etc)- Increased pressure on land resources- Loss and degradation of natural cover- Increase on the districts food security - Development (social, economic) – Win-win situation

-0.800

-0.600

-0.400

-0.200

0.000

0.200

0.400

0.600

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

ND

VI

valu

es

No. of observations

2018

2014

2010

2006

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Commercialfarming

Grassland Open water Settlement Small scalefarming

TropicalHigh Forest-

WellStocked

Wetland Woodland

%

Land use/cover types

2006

2010

2014

2018

Findings




Rwamwanja and Kyaka II

Key issues and implications- Reductions in natural cover (bushlands, wetland,

grasslands)- Increase in land use activities ( settlements, farming

activities)- Influx of refugees, demand for firewood, land- Increased pressure on land resources

-0.400

-0.300

-0.200

-0.100

0.000

0.100

0.200

0.300

0.400

0.500

0.600

0 20 40 60 80 100 120ND

VI

valu

es

No. of observations

2018

2014

2010

2006

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Settlements Bushland Grassland Open water Small scalefarming

Tropical HighForest

degraded

Tropical HighForest Well

Stocked

Wetland Woodland

%

Land use/cover types

2006

2010

2014

2018

Climate Change Shocks in last 5 years




Conclusion on Perceptions




The dwellers of the refugee Settlement areas do

confirm experiencing climate change

They experience climate changes in various ways

among which include, prolonged dry spells, droughts,

erratic rains, strong winds, increased air temperatures

The dwellers experience scarcity of wood fuel

There are various ways they experience the scarcity

of wood fuel. These include walking longer distance

to gather firewood, skipping cooking meals, using

other resources to cook.

Energy Use

Livelihoods

Paid labour




0%

30%

5%

34%

2%

1%

11%

17%

1%

74%

1%

1%

3%

3%

16%

1%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Pension or government allowances

Farming

Gifts/begging

Humanitarian organisationremittances

Remittance from family members

Institutional employment

Employment-self employed

Others

Hosts Refugees

Fuel consumption per settlement




Fuel Use




A random one day survey of about 82 households in the settlements

of Bidi Bidi & Adjumani revealed the following:

• Estimated average firewood consumption: 2 kgs/person/day

• Firewood consumption ranged from 0.8 – 4 kgs/person/day

• A bundle of wood (6-7 pieces) costs UGX 500

• Estimated average charcoal consumption: 0.2kgs/person/day

• In most households, charcoal is used as an alternate fuel

Change in distance




62% reported that the distance walked to collect firewood had increased over

the last one year. 59% of the respondents reported the cause being

unavailability of firewood in the old place.

54%68%

36%58% 61% 49% 60%

88% 88%

46% 56% 61%75%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Nak

ival

e

Oru

chin

ga

Kya

ka II

Kya

ngw

ali

Rw

amw

anja

Kir

yan

do

ngo

Rh

ino

cam

p

Ad

jum

ani

Lob

ule

Pal

ori

nya

Pal

abe

k

Bid

ibid

i

Imve

pi

South West West Nile

Increased Decreased Remained the same

No change mentioned Not applicable

Fuel coping mechanisms




Due to the scarcity of fuel for cooking many of the

respondents resort to various mechanisms

• 51% skip meals,

• 19% change the diet to greens, porridge

• 18% find other means of survival either by

looking for it from far places selling food or

another item to begging from the neighbours

• 8% undercooking the food

• 5% cooked with their neighbours

Challenges faced using firewood




0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Nak

ival

e

Oru

chin

ga

Kya

ka II

Kya

gwal

i

Rw

amw

anja

Kir

yan

do

ngo

Rh

ino

cam

p

Ad

jum

ani

Lob

ule

Pal

ori

nya

Pal

abek

Bid

ibid

i

Imve

pi

South West West Nile

Smoke Long distance Threats from the host

Health issues No challenge

Health challenges related to fuel




Stove Technologies Used




Stove used Refugees Vs Hosts




57% 64%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

Refugees Hosts

Unimproved cook stoves Improved cook stoves

Common stoves used




Recommendations

Proposed interventions




• Stove for work principle

• Tree growing and wood lot planting

• Alternative fuels

• Market led solutions such as PAYG, micro

enterprise offer a stronger basis for energy

sustainability.

• Involving both men and women in the design

process.

Promotion of energy efficient cook stoves




• Lorena stove: adoption rate and feedback are positive

Laws and Regulations




Marking of trees

1

Selling charcoal

2

Cuttingtrees

3

Thank you!

Eileen Lara


Makerere University

P.O. Box 7062,

Kampala, Uganda




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