Most of the 10 000 refugees who fled to Uganda from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Tuesday have returned home, the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Thursday.
UNHCR said more than 8 500 refugees went back on Wednesday, a day after fleeing their country fearing fresh violence there.
”Refugees [said] they had fled to Uganda for fear of reprisals after villagers … stoned for a second day Tuesday a patrol of the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC and local police forces,” UNHCR officials in Uganda said in a statement.
”Refugees did not elaborate on the incident.”
UN and Ugandan government officials found about 1 500 men, women and children still sheltering on the Ugandan side of the border on Wednesday, and UNHCR said there was an unconfirmed report there were 5 000 more refugees further south.
It said the displaced people its staff had found were in good condition. ”Many had brought some foodstuff with them but complained of a lack of clothes and blankets,” UNHCR said.
Uganda’s military says the refugees fled DRC fearing reprisals from DRC’s security forces after an anti-UN march organised by renegade General Laurent Nkunda turned violent. — Reuters