Food Ration Cuts Spark Mental Health Crisis Among Refugees in Northern Uganda

Justine Ayek Bol fled violence in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State in 2018, seeking refuge in Palabek settlement with his family. Initially manageable, life has turned dire due to hunger and psychological strain. Upon returning after a year away, he found his wife suffering from a mental disorder triggered by harsh conditions, now receiving treatment in Gulu City.

This personal ordeal reflects a broader crisis affecting tens of thousands of refugees. Global funding shortfalls have forced the World Food Programme to slash rations since 2023, leaving families uncertain about their next meal. Small farming plots yield little, exacerbating food insecurity.

Palabek, home to about 87,860 refugees—mostly women and children—sees worsening mental health issues. War trauma, poverty, and deprivation fuel depression, anxiety, and PTSD, according to local leaders like sub-county chairperson Christopher Omal. Only two psychiatric nurses visit weekly, straining limited health facilities.

Refugees resort to destructive coping, with alcohol and drug abuse surging. A 2025 Refugee-led Research Hub study linked food scarcity to heightened distress, anxiety, psychosis, and substance issues. In August 2025, WFP aided 886,807 people, but 712,000 refugees face acute hunger through early 2026.

The problem spills into urban areas like Gulu, where overcrowded living and financial woes drive substance abuse hotspots. Aid withdrawals have cut counseling services from six organizations in 2019 to few by 2024.

Some relief comes from groups like Women’s Peace Initiative, assessing thousands for trauma care, and PACTA Uganda, treating hundreds for addiction. Yet, as the 2025 State of Uganda Population Report warns of elevated mental health burdens, hope fades amid dwindling support.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)