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25/02/2004
UN to help survivors of Ugandan refugee camp massacre
A United Nations mission has been sent to north-eastern Uganda to help survivors of a massacre which killed more than 200 people on Saturday.
It is thought that at least 203 people were killed during the attack on Barlonyo refugee camp which was carried out by rebels from the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). Some were burned in their shelters and others shot, bludgeoned, or hacked to death, it has been reported. The LRA are a rebel faction fighting to topple Uganda's president, Yoweri Museveni.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and UN Children's Fund staff members reported finding about 100 people in the camp trying to salvage their possessions. The Barlonyo survivors were relocated to Ogur and Agweng camps nearby.
The UN World Food Programme, which has 40 metric tons of food on hand, has scheduled food distribution to survivors for today.
Officials said that they would assign 300 militia members and 50 soldiers to guard refugee camps.
"This senseless atrocity underscores the need for increased security in northern Uganda and protection of vulnerable civilians," said UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland.
Noting that the LRA has been accused of many atrocities, including abducting children for use as sex slaves, the Acting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Bertrand Ramcharan, called for "the perpetrators of this appalling crime" at Barlonyo to be brought to justice in accordance with international norms.
(gmcg)
It is thought that at least 203 people were killed during the attack on Barlonyo refugee camp which was carried out by rebels from the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). Some were burned in their shelters and others shot, bludgeoned, or hacked to death, it has been reported. The LRA are a rebel faction fighting to topple Uganda's president, Yoweri Museveni.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and UN Children's Fund staff members reported finding about 100 people in the camp trying to salvage their possessions. The Barlonyo survivors were relocated to Ogur and Agweng camps nearby.
The UN World Food Programme, which has 40 metric tons of food on hand, has scheduled food distribution to survivors for today.
Officials said that they would assign 300 militia members and 50 soldiers to guard refugee camps.
"This senseless atrocity underscores the need for increased security in northern Uganda and protection of vulnerable civilians," said UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland.
Noting that the LRA has been accused of many atrocities, including abducting children for use as sex slaves, the Acting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Bertrand Ramcharan, called for "the perpetrators of this appalling crime" at Barlonyo to be brought to justice in accordance with international norms.
(gmcg)
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