Government appeals relief for Ituri
May 08, 2003
THE Government yesterday sent out an international appeal for humanitarian assistance for over 120,000 ethnic Hema who are fleeing violence in Ituri, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) into Uganda
BY Grace Matsiko
THE Government yesterday sent out an international appeal for humanitarian assistance for over 120,000 ethnic Hema who are fleeing violence in Ituri, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) into Uganda.
The Second Deputy Prime minister and minister for disaster preparedness, Lt. Gen. Moses Ali, told over 50 diplomats at his office yesterday that the UPDF would not stay in DRC to save the situation. He asked the UN to deploy adequately in the troubled zone.
“The Government had warned the international community that the withdrawal of UPDF without deployment of adequate UN forces would create a security vacuum which would lead flare up the Lendu-Hema conflict which had been contained by UPDF,†Ali said.
He said the UN and Kinshasa police deployment have proved inadequate and warned of bloodbath.
He said as of Wednesday, between 110,000 and 120,000 Hemas had flocked to West Nile and Fort Portal. He said the refugees lack water, shelter, medicine and food.
State minister for regional co-operation Col. Kahinda Otafiire blamed Rwanda for the current flares of the conflict between the Hema and the Lendu.
He said Rwanda armed the Hema against the Lendu while Mbusa Nyamwisi, the leader of the Congolese rebel faction backed the Lendu.
Gen. Ali said government is looking for suitable place to temporary settle the refugees.
Meanwhile, Emmy Allio reports that with feet swollen and hardly able to move on, dozens of Hema children, among the 10,000 refugees, were hoping against hope to reach Bundibugyo district in Uganda.
As they trudged along with withdrawing Uganda troops, fresh fighting between the Hema and Lendu was reported in the Ituri region of the DR Congo. Massive looting was reported to be continuing.
“The Hema are fleeing because the United Nations peace-keepers and Kinshasa cannot guarantee their security,†Hema chief for Bahema-South Kisembo Bitamara said.
Over 6,000 Hema were moving with the UPDF towards Rwabisengo and Mahagi respectively.
Kisembo said they reached Kasenyi and Tchomia on the shores of Lake Albert. “Many of the children had swollen feet, unable to walk further. They just want to reach Ntoroko in Bundibugyo district,†he said.
THE Government yesterday sent out an international appeal for humanitarian assistance for over 120,000 ethnic Hema who are fleeing violence in Ituri, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) into Uganda.
The Second Deputy Prime minister and minister for disaster preparedness, Lt. Gen. Moses Ali, told over 50 diplomats at his office yesterday that the UPDF would not stay in DRC to save the situation. He asked the UN to deploy adequately in the troubled zone.
“The Government had warned the international community that the withdrawal of UPDF without deployment of adequate UN forces would create a security vacuum which would lead flare up the Lendu-Hema conflict which had been contained by UPDF,†Ali said.
He said the UN and Kinshasa police deployment have proved inadequate and warned of bloodbath.
He said as of Wednesday, between 110,000 and 120,000 Hemas had flocked to West Nile and Fort Portal. He said the refugees lack water, shelter, medicine and food.
State minister for regional co-operation Col. Kahinda Otafiire blamed Rwanda for the current flares of the conflict between the Hema and the Lendu.
He said Rwanda armed the Hema against the Lendu while Mbusa Nyamwisi, the leader of the Congolese rebel faction backed the Lendu.
Gen. Ali said government is looking for suitable place to temporary settle the refugees.
Meanwhile, Emmy Allio reports that with feet swollen and hardly able to move on, dozens of Hema children, among the 10,000 refugees, were hoping against hope to reach Bundibugyo district in Uganda.
As they trudged along with withdrawing Uganda troops, fresh fighting between the Hema and Lendu was reported in the Ituri region of the DR Congo. Massive looting was reported to be continuing.
“The Hema are fleeing because the United Nations peace-keepers and Kinshasa cannot guarantee their security,†Hema chief for Bahema-South Kisembo Bitamara said.
Over 6,000 Hema were moving with the UPDF towards Rwabisengo and Mahagi respectively.
Kisembo said they reached Kasenyi and Tchomia on the shores of Lake Albert. “Many of the children had swollen feet, unable to walk further. They just want to reach Ntoroko in Bundibugyo district,†he said.