Congolese refugees flee to Southern Sudan after LRA attacks

September 26, 2008 (GANGURA, Western Equatoria) — Hundreds of Congolese refugees have fled to neighbouring Sudan following attacks by the Ugandan rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a southern Sudan humanitarian agency today.

"Tenths of hundreds of Congolese refugees fled their villages in the Democratic Republic of Congo Tuesday and continue to arrive till date as LRA rebels terrorize the region looting, abducting and raping the vulnerable Congolese in the area," the State Sudanese Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Committee (SRRC) director said.

The LRA, whose leaders have been indicted by the International Criminal Court, ICC, in The Hague, has retreated to the remote forests of the Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC. The rebels reached an agreement with Kampala but their leader Joseph Kony asks for more guarantees before inking it.

Before boarding her flight set for Juba today afternoon, the Governor of WES, Jemma Nunu Kumba, confirmed the refugees arrival saying "more than one thousand have arrived in Gangura Payam (12 miles from Yambio) and Nabiapai" (21 miles from Yambio).

Kumba further said “Emergency arrangements to assist the refugees is materializing, the state government within its meagre resources I supplying good items, non-food items and medical gets to Congolese Refugees”.

Also she hailed the quick response from the humanitarian organisations in Yambio.

One of the refugees fleeing the violence perpetrated by LRA in Congo, said the assailants mainly come from the villages around Dungu which is located in East Province, extreme north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"Tension remains high in the Dungu area, where some villages — Duru, Kiliwa and Nimba — were attacked last week by Ugandan rebels, with at least ten people killed and over a hundred abducted" he added.

"The schools have remained closed and we are attempting a headcount of people that fled from fear of new attacks," another one said.

On September 24, information received from Dungu territory reported simultaneous LRA attacks on several localities northeast of Dungu in Wando, in particular Kiliwa, Duru, Nambia, Bitima, Bayote, Nakitokato, Nabungu and Nalemango.

These attacks took place from 18-21 September 2008, causing the displacement of thousands of people.

The state Governor warned that “more humanitarian assistance is needed to assist the refugees and to avoid the spread of tropical diseases among the refugees.

(ST)

2 Forum messages

Congolese refugees flee to Southern Sudan after LRA attacks 27 September 2008 05:12, by Mr Famous Big_Logic_Boy

Oh My God,bloody konyi is now becoming a very notorious man to the four countries of Uganda,S.Sudan,CAR and DRC,i warn that we don’t need riek anymore to fool around with his fake peace mediation,it is time to set konyi on fire by joining the three countries together,eventually it is not time for mediators to consume with pounds or shs,for instance SPLA/M,UPDF and DRC troops can discipline the stupid konyi,because it is that mr riek has communicated to his friend that about the indication of their leader al bashir by ICC is going to be stopped by those of US,for example Ghana has denied to arrest him.

However for the sack of our people beside chameleone riek i would urge UPDF,SPLA/M and DRC to workout how they would discipline LRA behaviours,i don’t even understand why should museveni implement the peace deal without signature or clear approval from konyi,it is a sort of something that has been done in blind process,even thought we knew that konyi and riek are taking this peace as their personal business for wasting with money,but the fact should be that no more peace mediation,it is useless to waste words,money and time on something that will never benefit anyone in Uganda,Southern Sudan and DRC.

Therefore i personal understood that mr riek has done a secret communication with his friend konyi which result to recent incident in DRC,but i pray that God is great he will bring a revenage to the cold blood that were lost in DRC,Ug and SS under those idiots who are revealing somehting aganist their own people."Fool remain foo", both cannot decieve us for years,konyi and his riek has nothing to do with,if riek is in effort of bringing peace let him join his konyi to workout their fake peace any where they want,but not consuming money on SPLA/M side and LRA without specific indication.Also this might be the reason why the nuer soldiers has intend to kill the Commissioner of Yirol East and SPLM County Secretary in Lake State,it is open and logically understood that riek has something seucre within his heart which is targetting the entire communities in Southern Sudan,but can any genuine person really forget the period of 1991 in Southern Sudan.

Congolese refugees flee to Southern Sudan after LRA attacks 28 September 2008 18:43, by Justin Chicago opiny

The LRA and Kony should understand that lost of life of innoncent people is vey painful and from the stand point of LRA that it wants to rule Uganda using the ten commandment the LRA is failing and most if not all that the LRA is doing is
is not in line with the 10 commandment.

Please Kony "latin Gang/latin paco"come to your senses stop the killing of innocent people ang leave the bush for the sake of peace.A every song of all kinds have been sang by numerous art song writers in the name of peace. Be God abiding person as you relate your movement in God,s name.Take courage and sign the peace agreement. It takes only a second to put your signature but the impact of peace is even more greater than that. The world community is ready to stand with you in the name of peace!!!