UNHCR Says Violence In DRC Forces 11,000 People To Flee To Neighboring Uganda

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) on Tuesday said an upsurge in violent clashes in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has forced at least 11,000 people to flee across the border into Uganda since Sunday night, reported UN News.

Suspected insurgents attacked army positions on Sunday night. The fighting between the DRC’s armed forces and militia groups is taking place in North Kivu’s Rutshuru Territory.

The DRC officials have accused former rebels of the March 23 Movement (M23) group of the attack. The M23 group has refuted the accusations that they are behind attacks or fighting with the military or government in a statement.

UNHCR spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo said the number is the largest refugee influx into Uganda for more than a year, adding that the vast majority were women and children.

According to the UNHCR, about 8,000 asylum-seekers crossed at Bunagana town and another 3,000 at the Kibaya border point, both of which are some 500 kilometers (300 miles) southwest of Uganda’s capital Kampala.

Mantoo said the people fleeing the DRC and entering Uganda carried cooking utensils, sleeping mats, clothing, and livestock along with them.

Uganda is one of the three countries globally that hosts more refugees than any other in Africa.  It is home to some 1.3 million refugees who fled violence in neighboring countries.

 The Ugandan borders are closed to asylum-seekers due to COVID-19 restrictions. But the government again applied a humanitarian exception and allowed people to take shelter in the country. 

UNHCR has commended Uganda for allowing those seeking refuge to enter the country. But, the UN refugee agency is concerned that local capacity and services may be soon overwhelmed and request urgent resources to address the needs of the new arrivals.

 So far this year, UNHCR has received only 45 percent of the funding for its operations in Uganda.