Bundibugyo – More refugees continue to come from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) into Uganda via the Butoogo border point in Bundibugyo, Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) has said.
The Congolese nationals are fleeing fresh attacks by the rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the Eastern DRC.
According to Irene Nakasiita the URCS spokesperson, by Tuesday afternoon, the total population of the refugees received had reached 1,202 and the number of households stood at 219.
She says the Red Cross is working under the coordination of the Office of the Prime Minister and the public authorities alongside other partners and the district officials within Bundibugyo to offer support to people who are arriving in the country.
“We also acknowledge that there are others who are using the porous border points but we have deployed volunteers to support and offer lifeline communication, guiding people to where they are supposed to go,” said Nakasiita
Government has gazetted Bubukwang transit center where the refugees are being guided on arrival.
“We know that there are those who are still at the border point monitoring the situation some probably would like to go back home once the situation normalises but we are only offering support to those who are moving to Bubukwang because it’s difficult to offer support to those who are still at the border point and those who are moving within the communities,” Nakasiita said.
She added, “We will continue to monitor the situation and we are ready to offer humanitarian assistance to those who come into the country as refugees,”
The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Lt. Col. Bright Alex reported that preliminary information from their security counterparts in DRC indicates that suspected ADF rebels attacked communities in Kichnaga, Watalinga County in Beni District on Sunday night, resulting in the deaths of more than 16 people.
