RESIDENTS FLEE FIGHTING NEAR DRC-UGANDA BORDER

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001841 SIPDIS KAMPALA FOR REFCOORD GFREDERICK SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM PGOV CG SUBJECT: RESIDENTS FLEE FIGHTING NEAR DRC-UGANDA BORDER REF: Kinshasa 1260 ¶1. (U) Initial press reports indicating up to 12,000 people fleeing fighting between DRC government and renegade forces near the border town of Bunagana (septel) appear to be somewhat inflated. Jens Hesemann of UNHCR Kinshasa told us December 7 that the UNHCR office in Kampala reports that 7000 Congolese entered the Kisoro district of Uganda as a result of fighting in DRC and that some have begun returning. ¶2. (U) Hesemann said UNHCR-Uganda conducted an assessment mission December 6 to determine the extent of the migration and humanitarian needs. The agency began providing emergency shelter, water and rations to refugees remaining on the Ugandan side of the border on December 7. Hesemann said UNHCR-Uganda has not been able to confirm Uganda press reports that seven refugees were killed and seven other people, including four Ugandans, were injured as a result of artillery launched from the DRC side of the border. ¶3. (U) Information about people displaced on the Congolese side of the border remains incomplete, and UN agencies have not yet conducted an assessment mission to affected areas. Some IDPs have begun to show up at previously-established centers and are receiving assistance there. Sake update -------------- ¶4. (U) Access by humanitarian agencies and NGOs remains limited in the area around Sake, site of earlier fighting initiated by Nkunda-allied forces November 25-27 (reftel). According to UNHCR-Kinshasa, the World Food Program and NGOs Solidarities and Norwegian Refugee Council are providing support for nearly 3000 families in and around the area. USAID's OFDA director has received reports indicating that some two-thirds of the population has returned to the town spontaneously. Several reports confirm that dwellings and businesses there were looted, although not destroyed, during and after the fighting. MEECE