We are pleased to announce that the Joint Refugee Return and Reintegration Plan (JRRRP), an integrated inter-agency response plan to ensure the sustainable return and reintegration of Burundi refugees from the five main countries of asylum (Tanzania, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and Kenya) is now available online. The JRRRP articulates the joint strategy to receive voluntarily repatriating refugees and provide both humanitarian and development oriented community-based response activities reaching an estimated 74,000 assisted and self -organized refugee returns in 2017and 2018, up to 116,000 refugee returns projected for 2019, as well as an additional 82,000 community members in the six main provinces of return. The plan brings together 19 partners within Burundi, including Government ministries, UN agencies and NGOs with a rationale to assist displacement affected communities in Burundi by strengthening their absorption capacity and resilience. While UNHCR is of the opinion conditions in Burundi are not currently conducive to promote returns, UNHCR and partners are supporting a solutions oriented approach by assisting refugees who indicate they have made a free and informed choice to voluntarily return. More than 75,000 refugees have returned to Burundi through the assisted voluntary repatriation program since September 2017, while others have returned on their own, citing the wish to return to their houses and farms, and to reunite with family. With respect to recent media statements by the governments of Tanzania and Burundi about plans to repatriate refugees more quickly on a bilateral basis, UNHCR continues to call upon the commitment of both governments to uphold international obligations and ensure that any returns are voluntary and conducted in line with the Tripartite Agreement and as reaffirmed at the Tripartite Commission Meetings of August 2017 and March 2018. UNHCR is also urging all States to ensure that no refugee is returned to Burundi against their will, and that measures are taken to make conditions in Burundi more conducive for refugee returns including confidence building efforts and reintegration support for those who have chosen to go home.

We are pleased to share with you the 2019 mid-year report on the South Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) and the country mid-year reports from the DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda. So far thanks to your support and efforts we managed to:  Provide 1.27 million South Sudanese refugees with food assistance  Ensure 11,500 South Sudanese refugee mothers delivered their babies safely with the assistance of qualified personnel  Assist 322,000 South Sudanese refugee children to attend early childhood development, primary or secondary school  Plant 622,000 new seedlings and reforest 2,911 hectares of land in Uganda, Kenya and Sudan in an effort to address environmental degradation

West African artists join in the UNHCR #Ibelong campaign for women to be able to pass on their nationality, Kora, March 10, 2015 EN SAVOIR

While more than 58,000 refugees have returned to Burundi since mid-2017, hundreds of refugees still flee Burundi each month, and UNHCR urges governments in the region to maintain open borders and access to asylum for those who need it.

With the latest arrivals from Sudan's South Kordofan, Ajuong Thok refugee camp’s population topped 30,000.

World Refugee Day was commemorated in 17 locations across South Sudan, involving more than 5,000 people as organizers, performers, participants or spectators.

World Vision Ethiopia on 28 June started the handover of Kule refugee camp permanent water supply system to the International Rescue Committee (IRC).

Yusuf Batil Biometric Verification/Registration: as of 22/05/2013 17,712 individuals have been verified (47% of Refugee camp population).

Yusuf Batil Biometric Verification/Registration: as of 28/05/2013 29,322 individuals have been verified (77% of Refugee camp population).

Yusuf Batil Biometric Verification/Registration: as of 29/05/2013 30,892 individuals have been verified (81.7% of Refugee camp population).