An assessment on the effects of refugee settlement on host communities of Obongi district. A case of Palorinya refugee settlement.

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the effects of refugee settlement on the host communities in Palorinya refugee settlement in Obongi District. The discussions of the various chapters are based on the findings and the interpretation of results during the study. The study was centred on assessing the effects of refugee settlement on the host communities in Palorinya refugee settlement in Obongi district. It covered a sample of 105 respondents and these included; 35 refugees in the settlement, 10 external actors in the settlement and 60 members of the Host community. These were selected by use of simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques. The study also focused on the main three objectives designed to examine the benefits of refugee settlement on the host communities in Palorinya refugee settlement in Obongi district, the challenges refugees pose on host communities in Palorinya refugee settlement in Obongi district and the effect of refugee presence on the socio- cultural and economic structure of the host community. Both Qualitative and Quantitative methods of data collection were used in the study The study findings indicate that there is a significant effect of refugee settlement on the host communities in Palorinya refugee settlement in Obongi District according to respondents. This is due to the fact that the benefits of refugee settlement on the host communities in Palorinya refugee settlement in Obongi district such as employment opportunities, economic transformation, accessibility to basic necessities of life, accessibility to goods and services and improved access to education. Refugees have resulted into improved infrastructure due to more schools and health facilities that have been constructed to accommodate the growing population. The refugee influx has put up high pressure on the available scarce resources in the host community such as land, increased cost of living and segregation among others. Despite the problems the refugees pose on host communities, there is an evidence of good relations between the refugees and host communities in Obongi district manifested through intermarriages and sharing of services for instance children in both communities attending the same schools and also having access to health services and clean safe water among others.