Nairobi — The survival of thousands of people who have fled fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) into Uganda's northwestern Nebbi District is at stake "if aid does not reach them immediately", according to the International Federation of the Red Cross.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Federation said inter-ethnic fighting and reports of atrocities in the DRC had displaced thousands of people, "creating a fresh refugee crisis" in Nebbi, and placing a "severe" strain on water, sanitation and health services.

Uganda Red Cross Society volunteers had been collecting food donations and distributing them to the most vulnerable refugees and new arrivals, the Federation reported.

"The survival of thousands of innocent people could be compromised if aid does not reach them immediately," Anitta Underlin, the Federation's representative in Uganda, said.

The Federation has launched an emergency appeal for 357,000 Swiss francs (US $261,000) to help the Ugandan Red Cross to assist 15,000 Congolese refugees over the next three months.

"Relief items such as tarpaulins, blankets, kitchen sets, jerry cans and hoes will be distributed, water and sanitation installations repaired, and more than 70 URCS volunteers will undergo disaster management training," the Federation said.