From 14-15 March, the UNHCR Representative, Ms. Clementine Nkweta Salami visited the UNHCR operation in Gambella to get first-hand information on the prevailing security situation and the way forward to ensure staff safety and to keep humanitarian activities running smoothly. Interethnic clashes broke out in the region on 28 January and lasted for a few weeks.

On 8 March the International Women’s Day was colourfully celebrated in refugee camps in Gambella region. The occasion was marked with traditional dancers, songs by school children, drama and speeches that focused on gender equality promotion. The Refugee Central Committee (RCC) chairpersons spoke of the need for the refugee community to change some of the cultural habits that deny women opportunities to participate in leadership. Among few things mentioned were early marriage which prevent girls from completing higher education.

The Canadian Ambassador to Ethiopia, H.E. Phillip Baker, on 7 December 2015 visited UNHCR Gambella Sub-Office to familiarize himself with the South Sudanese refugee operation in Gambella Region. He was accompanied by a representative from Canada is Dedicated to International Development (DFTAD), Mr. Dave Weber.

Due to identification of risk of measles outbreak in Kule refugee camp, MSF-Holland conducted a mass measles vaccination exercise from 11-14 January 2016 wherein 97.2% i.e. 5,767 from 5,934 targeted children aged 6-59 months were vaccinated against measles.

The Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Addis Ababa, Mr. Peter H. Vrooman, visited UNHCR Sub-Office Gambella on 9 December. Mr. Vrooman’s last visit to Gambella was in March 2015 when he inaugurated Jewi camp along with the President of Gambella Regional State, His Excellency Ato Gatluak Tuk Khot; Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA); Deputy Director Ato Ayalew Aweke; then outgoing UNHCR Representative (Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa), Mr. Valentin Tapsoba; and the Deputy Assistant Secretary Catherine Wiesner of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (BPRM) in Washington.

541 new arrivals, consisting of 131 families from South Sudan, were registered at the Pagak entry point and relocated to Pugnido 2 camp on 15 January 2016. The refugees were mainly from Upper Nile State and 70% of them were children. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) facilitated the relocation.

Ms. Sandra Bedoya-Hanson, Assistant Refugee Coordinator, Bureau of Population, Refugee, and Migration (PRM) in Addis Ababa was in Gambella from 19 to 21 October during which she witnessed humanitarian assistance being provided to South Sudanese refugees in camps and held meetings with refugees, Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA), UNHCR and partners.

DanChurchAid (DCA) in collaboration with UNHCR and the Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA) hosted a delegation of the Ambassador of Denmark to Ethiopia, the DCA General Secretary, Head of Humanitarian Director, and the DCA Regional Representative Delegation. The mission visited the Fresh Food Voucher project in Tierkidi camp on 19 October.

On 7 October, a three-week Back to School campaign climaxed in Kule camp marking the reopening of schools for the 2015/2016 academic year. Simultaneous grand marches took place in other refugee camps. UNHCR, ARRA and partners made remarks encouraging refugees to focus on their studies and stay in school.

To intensify the current malaria prevention and control measures in refugee camps, 4,140 transitional shelters were sprayed with Propoxur chemical in Kule camp from 29 September to 7 October. The other five camps are following.