The children crossed into Uganda following fighting between the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) soldiers that started on March 28 in Rutshuru territory, North Kivu province.
More than 10,000 refugee children at the Nyakabande reception centre are struggling to access
education services.
The children
crossed into Uganda following fighting between the March 23 Movement (M23)
rebels and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC)
soldiers that started on March 28 in Rutshuru territory, North Kivu
province.
Primrose Natukunda,
the Kisoro District Manager for the Ugandan Red Cross, says that 870 fresh
refugees were registered at the transit center on Monday evening while other
thousands remain at Bunagana.
Sarah
Nyirabashitsi Mateke, Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs says that
the 12,000 children at the transit center are not receiving education services.
Nyirabashitsi also says that the situation has worsened by a lack of education
facilities like schools at the transit center. She however says that the
refugees are being convinced to accept the transfer to Nakivale refugees camp
where there are education services.
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Robert
Tukamuheebwa, Deputy Kisoro Resident District Commissioner says that the
majority of the children at the transit centre are below five years. Tukamuheebwa
says that they are only providing immunization and fighting against
malnutrition.
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Catholic
Relief Services (CRS) a catholic based organization that supports orphaned and
vulnerable children in Central and Western Uganda in conjunction with the
Uganda Red Cross Society have been constructing 20 latrine blocks and 40
communal shelters to maintain hygiene at the centre.
Hillary
Adomat, the Shelter Technical Officer for Catholic Relief Services says that
the communal shelters are targeting to accommodate 4,000 refugees.
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Natukunda says
that they are still challenged by some of the refugees who are yet to adapt to
using toilets but instead use nearby bushes to answer nature’s call. She also
says that the Uganda Red Cross society has installed four 10,000 liters of
water tanks to help in providing safe water to the refugees.
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Fighting
between M23 rebels and FARDC soldiers resumed in the wee hours of Tuesday
morning in the areas of Kibumba and Buhumba in Nyiragongo, North Kivu. FARDC
claims that it was attacked by the rebels in its position located on Nyundo
hill, less than a kilometer from the Goma-Rutshuru road with an aim of
occupying the region that is strategic to the City of Goma.
The attack
was however repelled by the FARDC, according to the spokesperson for Sokola 2,
Lieutenant-Colonel Guillaume Njike.
On Monday,
Rwanda Defense Forces through their military spokesperson, Colonel Ronald
Rwivanga accused FARDC of shelling into Rwandan territory of Kinigi and Nyange
sectors in Musanze district injuring several civilians and damaging property.
