[1] The settlement is composed entirely of refugees from the Kuku tribe of South Sudan.
[3] Elema has a total population of 876 registered refugees.
Intermarriages are common between the two communities and there has been a harmonious sharing of natural resources such as land.
[4][5] Elema has only one health centre, that is shared with Barutuku, which makes it very difficult for the refugees at Elema to access adequate medical treatment.
There are only two operational hand pumps serving the whole settlement.