Refugees Flee Rebel Scare
Email This Page
Print This Page
Visit The Publisher's Site
The Monitor (Kampala)
April 21, 2004
Posted to the web April 21, 2004
Tabu Butagira
Arua
Thousands of Sudanese refugees in Adjumani have fled their camps following reports of
rebel infiltration into the district. The flight comes hot on the heels of last week's
ambush on a convoy at the Gulu-Adjumani border by the rebel Lord's Resistance Army.
The refugees, sources say, are fleeing from Olua, Aceri, Kolidibi, Ariwara, Aderi and
Mahagi settlements. Eyewitnesses say the refugees, mainly women and children, are
moving toward Alere near River Nile, which they consider safe.
When contacted yesterday, Adjumani RDC Patrick Duriku said: "It's true the rebels are
around the camps. The refugees are running away because they have had enough trouble
due to war."
He, however, denied reports that the Joseph Kony-led rebels abducted children from
Ariwara Primary School on Monday. But the district assistant refugee officer Simon
Baru said by telephone yesterday "the rebels attacked the school at around 2:30 p.m.
and picked two pupils. What I have not established is their names, classes and ages."
Refugee minister Moses Ali could not be reached for a comment yesterday. He was
reportedly in a meeting. Mr Baru said more than 20,000 refugees have so far fled their
settlements.
Relevant Links
East Africa
Uganda
He said that by yesterday, UN Refugee Agency officials were locked up in a meeting at
the RDC's office trying to find ways of bolstering security in the area and
re-assuring the panic-stricken Sudanese nationals.
The district has about 69,000 Sudanese refugees
--------------------------------------------
This service is hosted on the Infocom network
http://www.infocom.co.ug
