Last month, more than 650 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC fleeing the war in the eastern part of their country entered Bundibugyo District through Rwamabale Sub County in Ntoroko district.
Congolese refugees at the Bubukwanga transit camp in Bundibugyo District
are crying out for relief assistance.
Last month, more than 650 refugees from the Democratic Republic of
Congo-DRC fleeing the war in the eastern part of their country entered
Bundibugyo District through Rwamabale Sub County in Ntoroko district. The
refugees first settled in Burondo, Ntandi town council, Ngamba and Ntotoro
sub-counties.
They were later settled at Bubukwanga transit camp in Bubukwanga
town council. At the camp,
some of the refugees look sick and their children malnourished.
Nestori Bebunina the camp chairperson says that the conditions at
the camp are appalling. He explains that he and other refugees sleep on the bare
floor and are overcrowded.
He adds that the majority of the refugees share plates and cups which
could expose them to diseases.
//Cue out: “Olipika chakula…
Cue out: …sipana juwa.”//
Joyce Kyamanyoha says she fled from her home in Budundi in Boga
with her four children without clothes and basic household items after the
house they were living in was burnt by the rebels.
//Cue in: “Kutungaho akasabuni....
Cue out: … akantu kokujuna."//
Sameulle Dite says that they are starving since the food served at
the camp is inadequate.
//Cue in: “ Tyalola nti mugenji...
Cue out: … mukiro kimwe."//
Isa Bambona another refugee says that the congestion
at the camp could lead to an outbreak of disease. He wants additional space created to cater for
the increasing numbers of refugees.
//Cue in: “ “Nimpura ninsasa muno...
Cue out: …
Samson Lingasa from Bogha wants humanitarian organizations to provide the refugees with some of the basic household needs. He
adds that the camp lacks enough safe water sources.
//Cue in: “ Ekizibu kimbaine mu camp...
Cue out: ...ne blanket."//
Joel Gesisa has opted to offer cheap labour to communities neighboring
the camp so that he can have adequate food for his family.
//Cue in: “Turugire mu Congo...
Cue out: ….nibigwera olina."//
Balimuni Zamare says their children are at risk of getting
malnourished due to the absence of food. He says they are depending on
one meal per day.
The Bughendera County MP Acrobert Moses Kiiza says that the overcrowding
in the camp, could expose both the refugees and the host community to
Covid-19. He wants the government to transfer some
of the refugees to other resettlement areas.
//Cue in: "This is a transit...
Cue out: …has surpassed that."//
David Mugenyi a settlement commandant in the Office of the Prime Minister said
the refugees will soon receive relief assistance. He also adds that there are
plans to expand the transit camp to receive more numbers and observe social
distancing.
