More Sudanese refugees enter Uganda following rebel attacks

KAMPALA, Nov 3, 2004 (Xinhua) — More Sudanese refugees have entered northern Uganda following recent rebel attacks on their villages in southern Sudan, reported local press on Wednesday.

Moyo district Commissioner Catherine Akumu Mavenjina was quoted as saying that “the refugees have crossed over in the last few days and have been granted the status by the United Nations humanitarian organizations working with refugees in Adjumeni and Moyo districts.”

She said this follows Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel attacks on their villages in southern Sudan.

Last week, about 2,000 refugees reportedly entered Moyo through Paanjala in Dufile sub-county.

The refugees, mostly women and children, said they were fleeing rebel attacks on their villages in Kodilili, about 42 km from Juba town in southern Sudan.

The refugees accused the rebels of looting their food stuffs and burning down their homes and property.

They said the rebels were also killing and maiming local residents.

Mavenjina said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Food Program were supporting the new entrants.

They are given food and settled in refugee camps in Itula sub- county.

Adjumeni and Moyo districts are home to over 60,000 Sudanese refugees, some of whom have settled in the region since 1967.