(PORTLAND, ORE., July 10, 2012) – Medical Teams International (MTI) is responding to a critical health situation in Uganda. More than 26,000 Congolese refugees, fleeing ongoing conflict and increased rebel activity in their country, have entered Uganda in the past five months and hundreds more are arriving daily. 

In collaboration with the Ugandan Ministry of Health, the Office of the Prime Minister, and the UNHCR, Medical Teams International has established a healthcare outpost at the refugee reception camp in Kisoro on the Ugandan side of the DR Congo/Uganda border.  The organization has allocated funds to provide emergency resources including medicines, medical supplies and additional staff. MTI is also seeking to raise additional funds to deploy volunteer medical teams as soon as possible.

“Just days ago, our staff in Uganda saw an estimated 4,000 refugees waiting at the border,” says Joe DiCarlo, MTI’s director of International Programs. “We have been providing medical care at the border since January, but the situation is becoming critical and more resources are needed to meet the health care needs of this massive influx of new refugees from DR Congo.” 

Medical Teams International will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on its response as events unfold.

For more information, see Uganda. To contribute, please make a donation for Uganda Disaster Relief.

Since 2004, Medical Teams International has provided health care services, community health education and immunizations to nearly 500,000 displaced people in various camps, settlements and clinics in the northern districts of Uganda. Medical Teams International has sent over 45 volunteer medical teams to Uganda to address immediate needs and to mobilize long-term health initiatives.