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“Given such numbers there is need for urgent humanitarian assistance, as some of the refugees are sick and have left all their belongings in Congo,” Uganda Red Cross official Catherine Ntabadde told AFP.
Tallies made late Saturday estimated 55 000 refugees had crossed the border, up from 30 000 the day before, she added.
Refugees have streamed across the border into western Uganda’s Bundibugyo district since the attack on Thursday, although the numbers of new arrivals crossing on Sunday had slowed to a trickle.
The town of Kamango in the northernmost part of DR Congo’s North Kivu province was attacked and briefly occupied last Thursday by a Ugandan-led rebel group, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
It was reported to be calm yesterday, and some refugees said they wanted to return home.
However, thousands still crowded into the grounds of schools in Bundibugyo — about 20 kilometres from the border with Congo — offered as a temporary shelter, with many building makeshift shelters or simply sleeping out in the open.
“Many new arrivals are also reported to be staying in the community,” said UN refugee agency official Karen Ringuette. “New arrivals are staying at five primary schools and various other sites.”
The Red Cross are working with the United Nations and other aid agencies to set up a camp further inside Uganda, although many refugees appeared reluctant to leave.
“The (Ugandan) government has found a transit camp eight kilometres from Bundibugyo town. There we can start registering them afresh,” Ntabadde said.
Uganda Red Cross, which is helping co-ordinate aid efforts on the ground, has appealed for funds to support the vast influx of refugees.
UN agencies have begun delivering kits to start digging latrines, as well as a tanker to deliver clean water.
Ringuette said that WFP had delivered 54 tonnes of food last Saturday — enough to feed 20 000 people for five days — and that more aid was due Monday. — AFP.
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