By Our Staff Writer – 30th Aug-5^th Sept 2010

The United Nations refugee agency has moved to improve the plight of about 1,500 Lord’s Resistance Army [LRA] victims scattered along the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC].

A UN spokesperson said the refugees who had been scattered following attacks between March and May by the LRA, a notorious Ugandan rebel group, are being moved to a newly constructed refugee camp where they will be at less risk.

In addition to protection and shelter, the new camp, located at Kpala-Kpala some 70 kilometres inside DRC, provides safe drinking water and allows better humanitarian access; said Adrian Edwards from UN High Commission for Refugees.

Following the attacks, the refugees had found shelter in several isolated border villages in Bas-Uélé district in northern DRC.  Their situation however remained precarious there as the LRA had already displaced some 280,000 people in DRC’s Haut and Bas-Uélé districts since December 2008.

Owing to difficult access conditions where the refugees had settled, many have been compelled to move to the new camp by foot – although the most vulnerable among them are being transported on motorbikes.

The LRA has been active in parts of Central African Republic [CAR] since 2000 and active in Uganda since 1986.  It has left a trail of killings and mayhem and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes in both Uganda and in neighbouring countries.  END.  If it’s Monday, it’s Uganda Correspondent.  Never miss out again.