Bidi Bidi, Northwestern Uganda
Bidi Bidi was a small village before becoming a refugee settlement which was opened in August 2016. As of 2017, it was the largest refugee camp with nearly 285,000 people settling there. Located in northwestern Uganda, the camp hosts nearly half of the 2 million refugees who have fled South Sudan since civil war broke out in 2013. Millions in South Sudan, out of political instability and economic challenges continue to flee or internally displaced to save their lives. People have raised concerns about the health conditions and access to health services in the camp as the number of South Sudan refugees entering Uganda continues to rise. According to Reuters, about 180 refugees (nearly half of them young children) died in Bidi Bidi in the first six months of 2017. Last December, refugees in the camp staged a violent strike over lack of food destroying vehicles and looting properties.
