Over 22,000 refugees have fled fighting in Democratic Republic
of Congo to neighbouring Uganda after violence that has left several
dead and villages torched, the UN said Tuesday.
At
least four refugees drowned while crossing the waters of Lake Albert
between the two nations, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said.
"Last
week, over 22,000 Congolese crossed Lake Albert to Uganda in three
days, bringing the total number of people from the DRC arriving in the
country to about 34,000 since the beginning of the year," UNHCR said
Tuesday.
"The refugees use small canoes or overcrowded
and rickety fishing boats, often carrying more than 250 people and
taking up to 10 hours to cross."
Violence erupted earlier in February in DR Congo's Ituri region between the Hema and Lendu ethnic groups.
Hema
herders and Lendu farmers have been locked in violence in Ituri for
decades, with tens of thousands killed from 1999 to 2003.
"Refugees crossing to Uganda talk of growing attacks against
civilian populations, as well as killings and destruction of private
property," the UN statement read.
"UNHCR staff also received many reports of civilians being hacked to death and killed with arrows."
Ituri
is part of DRC's deeply troubled eastern region that includes the
restive North and South Kivu provinces, where militias hold sway over
huge areas.
The latest violence comes amid uncertainty over the future of President Joseph Kabila, who has ruled since 2001.
The latest violence comes amid uncertainty over the future of President Joseph Kabila, who has ruled since 2001.
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