 |
|
A boy stands outside the refugee camps near Goma, the provincial capital of the eastern province of North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, Oct. 31, 2008. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
KAMPALA, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Over 600 Congolese crossed into Uganda on Friday morning fleeing fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said.
The UN refugee agency said in a statement issued here that the total number has now reached 8,500 refugees who have fled fighting between rebels loyal to renegade commander Laurent Nkunda and the Congolese army in the last three months.
"The majority of the Congolese who arrived in the last three days fled from Rugarama village, 17 km from the Ugandan border, and walked for over 20 hours to reach Uganda through Busanza border point, in Kisoro," the statement said.
"They reported that their village had been taken over by Nkunda' s rebels and their lives were in danger," it added.
 |
|
A boy stands outside the refugee camps near Goma, the provincial capital of the eastern province of North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, Oct. 31, 2008. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
The agency said 6,500 refugees are settled in 12 villages in the border district of Kisoro while 2,000 have been relocated to Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Isingiro district, where they have access to clean water, sanitation facilities, shelter and food.
The agency said it is finding it very difficult to provide assistance to the refugees who are scattered in the villages, where the security situation is unstable and the food, health, water and sanitation situation could rapidly deteriorate if the number of new comers increases.
Roberta Russo, the external relations officer of the UNHCR office here told Xinhua by telephone that starting next week the agency with other partners will carry out mass information campaigns to inform the refugees about their rights and the assistance they would be offered if they decide to move Nakivale.
Stefano Severe, UNHCR Representative in Uganda said in the statement that a small transit centre and a regular system of transportation from Kisoro to Nakivale will be set up for the refugees who are willing to move.
"Should the influx of refugees from DRC continue and reach over20,000 people, we might establish a reception centre in Nyakabanda,15 km from the border, where, .. the refugees will have access to clean water, sanitation facilities, shelter and food" he said.
Last year, Uganda received four mass influxes of refugees from DRC, majority of whom have since return. Over 8,000 of them decided to stay and settle in Nakivale.
Uganda presently hosts 146,407 refugees, including 48,606 Congolese.
UN: About 45,000 Congolese flee displacement camp
NAIROBI Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- The UN refugee agency said that as many as 45,000 Congolese people have fled camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) on Wednesday and streamed into a nearby provincial capital. Full story
 |
|
A UN armoured vehicle outside the UN headquarters in Goma, the provincial capital of the eastern province of North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, Oct. 31, 2008. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
DR Congo flare-up drives 30,000 people into camps near Goma
KINSHASA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is driving 30,000 people into refugee camps near Goma, the provincial capital of the country's eastern province of North Kivu, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Wednesday. Full story
 |
|
Refugees flee with their belongings from the city of Kibati to Goma October 29, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
Oxfam raises alarm about DR Congo's escalating fighting
NAIROBI, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The international aid agency Oxfam said on Wednesday that the fresh fighting in eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has displaced tens of thousands more people from their homes. Full story
Agencies : Rebels in DR Congo declares unilateral cease-fire
KINSHASA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) declared on Wednesday a unilateral cease-fire as they threatened to take over a strategic city in the country, reports from agencies said. Full story
