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Congolese Flee Fighting

New Vision (Kampala)
NEWS
December 20, 2004
Posted to the web December 20, 2004

By K. Muhanga
Kampala
FORTY-three congolese refugees have crossed into Uganda from Rutchuru zone in
North Kivu in the DR Congo.
The influx followed fighting between Rwanda and the Kishasha government troops.
The refugees, most of them women and children, said the fighting started last
Monday when the Rwanda-backed RCD-Goma rebels clashed with the government
troops.
"There were heavy gun shots the whole day," a refugee said on Wednesday.
Mbarara refugees desk officer Titus Jogo said 37 of the refugees had camped at
Kisoro reception centre, while six crossed from Ishasha in Kanungu on Tuesday.
"We have screened them and they have been granted refugee status. Plans are
underway to relocate them to Kyaka II resettlement camp in Kyenjojo district,"
Jogo said.
The United Nations refugee agency's head of field office in Mbarara, Adan Diis
Iimi, said they anticipated an influx of refugees from the DRC.
Security sources also reported fighting at kanyamirima near ishasha border in
Kanungu district.
A security officer in Kanungu said, "There is no need to worry. Our territory
is safe."

   

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