Western Equatoria seeks humanitarian aid for LRA-affected IDPS
July 1, 2010 (JUBA) — Authorities from southern State of Western Equatoria have on Thursday called for humanitarian assistances for the recently displaced local population by elements associated with Uganda’s rebel known as Lord Resistance Army (LRA) in the area.
One of the daily security reports emitting from office of Western Equatoria State today, seen by Sudan Tribune, reported that a suspected group of LRA rebels attacked Kasha village Wednesday June 30, 2010, killing one civilian and burnt down a local Church.
The attack is said to have occurred at around 11:00hrs in a village reported to be about 23 miles, east of Yambio, the capital of western Equatoria and three miles from Rimenze on Yambio- Maridi road.
One motorist who rode on the same road from Ibba to Yambio the same day of the incident, on Wednesday, reported to have seen hundreds of civilians along the road between an area named Makpandu and Bodo fleeing the LRA attack.
“I saw many people carrying things they could afford and all saying there were gun shots in the area;” reportedly said motorist, adding this is really terrible.
Philip Mbugo, a local reporter with the state owned Yambio FM, who is also a native from the area, reportedly said disturbed by the report suggesting another attack on his village. “This is not the first attack on our village. We have had a lot of them, of which, he said, we have lost prominent members of our village since LRA began to operate in the area.”
Mbugo who was equally reported looking for a possible means of transport to the village in order to know more about the whereabouts of his relatives living in the village, is one of the arrow boys in the state.
With the continuous attacks by the LRA on villages along the Yambio-Maridi road, the state is expected to have more displaced people who may need urgent humanitarian assistance.
In Tambura alone, the SRRC Relief Coordinator Mr. Albert Dabira reported that there are 11038 internal displaced persons (IDPs) registered so far in the County and many more are coming into the outskirt of the town daily seeking humanitarian assistance.
Since the LRA started attacks on Tambura County and its surrounding villages and Payams, those displaced by recent LRA activities have not received any relief assistance, said Dabira, SRRC relief coordinator in a report to governor on Thursday.
He said areas affected by LRA attacks in the Tambura County include Nabaria, Zangia, Wauro, Mupoi Payam, Source Yubu, and Akpa. Recently the LRA appeared in Mabenge which is the last Village of Tambura County to the border with Central Africa Republic. In Nagero County, Namitina is one of the most affected areas. One man reportedly abducted by the group in Mabenge escaped and later appeared in another village named as Akpa.
Mr. Dabira stated that borders between Sudan, Central Africa Republic and DRC are open for the LRA and they are the ones controlling those borders. “People seeking better security in the towns after attacks becomes the victims once they want to go back to their farms looking for food, because LRA are ever there waiting for them,” he said.
Government of Sudan has recently been reported to have deployed more than two battalions of SAF (Sudan Armed Forces) in Central Africa Republic to pursue the group. Reports at the extreme borders between Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Central Africa Republic, on Tuesday also suggested division of LRA fighters into two groups. One group following the borders of Central Africa and DRC heading towards the Garamba national part while the other that attacked areas around Tambura came via Namutina, Tambura through Sue down to Bangasu and now around Rimenze area.
(ST)