The UN Refugee Agency says the average rate of new arrivals of South Sudan refugees in Uganda has almost doubled over the last 2 months.

It says the number of refugees that arrive on daily basis is about 2,800. In July, there were roughly 1,600 new arrivals daily. The figure rose to 1,700 in August.

In its latest update, the UNHCR says some 5,600 South Sudanese have sought refuge in Ugandan over the past four days, entering through the Democratic Republic of Congo.

It says new settlement areas, expected to have a capacity to host up to 3,000 refugees, have been opened in Adjumani district.

The UNHCR says the new arrivals report having to avoid the Busia border crossing point in Arua due to the presence of armed men.

It says this is forcing an increasing number to enter Uganda via informal crossing points, with some first transiting through the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The agency says more than 175,000 South Sudanese refugees have arrived in Uganda since July, bringing to more than 400,000 the total number since December 2013.