Western Equatoria struggling with influx of refugees and IDPs

The Southern Sudanese state of Western Equatoria has registered thousands of refugees and displaced civilians but lacks the resources to support them, officials said.



The refugees fled a Ugandan government-led offensive in December 2008 against Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), while the others fled attacks on their homes by cattle-raiders from neighbouring Lakes State.



"Since the recent escalation of LRA atrocities in Western Equatoria and the displacement of so many people, the response of humanitarian organisations has, regrettably, been very slow," Jemma Nunu Kumba, state governor, said on 19 January. "The people are [now] forced to continue enduring terrible misery."



Appealing for help, the state authorities said they had registered 8,000 people from DRC and 6,000 displaced Sudanese civilians who had abandoned their homes, property, farms and food stores and sought refuge in towns.



"We need help," the state Finance Minister Charles Abdu, said. "We have exhausted everything we have. Anything you can give, whether food or clothing, give."



The offensive against the LRA followed a failure by its leader Joseph Kony to sign a peace agreement with the Ugandan government. Analysts had warned that an attack on the LRA – then showing signs of weakening - could rejuvenate the rebel groups and lead to a resurgence in violence.



"To date, Congolese refugees are registered throughout the state and many more have settled with kinsmen, putting too much strain on local coping mechanisms," the governor told IRIN on 19 January.



"Children with malaria and pneumonia have no access to medicines and medical facilities; food supplies are getting very low even for the local inhabitants; most displaced persons have no shelter and the situation is likely to get worse after the onset of the coming rainy season."



The rebels moved to the south-western Sudanese region as part of a ceasefire signed with the Ugandan government in 2006. The agreement required them to assemble in Ri-Kwangba from where they would be repatriated after a final peace deal.



Kony snubbed the signing over charges brought against him by the International Criminal Court.

We need help...we have exhausted everything we have. Anything you can give, whether food or clothing, give

Villages attacked



The governor said the group had, since it relocated to the area, attacked towns and villages, hacking to death more than 120 people and abducting young children. They had also looted property and burnt food stores.



Between 24 December and 13 January, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW), the rebels brutally massacred at least 620 civilians and abducted more than 160 children in northern DRC.



In a statement issued on 16 January with Justice Plus, a Congolese human rights organisation, HRW said many of the victims were killed or abducted in three simultaneous attacks on 24 and 25 December, especially in and around Doruma, Faradje and Duru, in Haute Uele territory.



At several sites where the killings took place, HRW researchers found fresh graves, pools of dried blood, cords used to tie up prisoners and blood-stained bats and axes used to kill the victims.



"In the past, Ugandan army attacks on the LRA have often spurred immediate reprisals on civilians living nearby," said Anneke van Woudenberg, senior HRW researcher. "LRA atrocities like these show the Ugandan army needs to take steps to protect civilians when undertaking offensive military operations."



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