Kampala — OVER 10,000 people in Otwal sub-county in Apac district have fled their villages following raids from Kony's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), the resident district commissioner, Drani Dradriga, has said.

Justin Moro reports that Dradriga said the over 10,000 displaced people were camped at Ayer and Aboke sub-county headquarters.

He said they are faced with a humanitarian crisis due to lack of food, shelter, drugs and proper sanitation.

LRA rebels recently attacked Otwal sub-county, killed about 16 people, burnt over 60 houses and abducted several people.

Dradriga said there were very few people left in Otwal sub-county and that the three parishes of Ajul, Abela and Okii were seriously affected by the rebel atrocities which forced the population to flee their village.

He called for government assistance, saying the people are desperate for aid.

Dradriga, however, said "the Apac district disaster management committee has distributed some little relief food assistance to the displaced people.

On the current security situation prevailing in the area, Dradriga, who is also the chairman of the district security committee, said, "Following the heavy deployment of UPDF forces, the rebels have fled towards Gulu and Pader border."