United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa)
Nana Rosine Ngangoue
29 December 2008
During the Christmas celebrations, LRA rebels conducted simultaneous attacks in several localities of Haut Uélé, northeastern DRC.
At least 189 civilians were killed in the attack, according to local and humanitarian officials, with 40 civilians reported killed in Faradje, 89 in Doruma and 60 in Gurba, between the 26 and 27 of December 2008.
A situational report issued by humanitarian actors in Dungu indicates that several officials were killed in Faradje, including the chief doctor (partner of UNFPA and Malteser International), two priests, one school inspector, a pharmacist, a head of the Fédération des Entreprises du Congo (FEC) and the Deputy Chief of the Immigration Office (DGM). 20 children were also abducted.
Altogether, 120 houses were torched in Faradje. The assailants looted several shops and houses, including a hospital. Faradje's 30,000 residents were forced into displacement, and the majority took refuge in Tadu (37km from Faradje) and Kpodo (11km from Faradje).
According to the same source, the LRA have occupied seven villages in the surrounding territory of Doruma: Batande, Manzagala, Mabando, Bagbugu, Nakatilikpa, Nagengwa and Natulugbu.
In a press release issued on Friday last, MONUC condemned the LRA's attack on the civilians, and described it as a serious human rights violation.
"MONUC condemns in the strongest possible terms the LRA's attack and recalls the Declaration of the President of the UN Security Council of 22 December last which also condemned the LRA's attacks, referring to it as a permanent threat to security in the region. The LRA were visibly routed by the joint air strikes against their base and while fleeing preyed on the vulnerable populations."
Upon the request of the FARDC Chief of Staff, MONUC airlifted a FARDC company to Faradje to prevent further attack by the LRA, while the UPDF (Ugandan army) provided transport for 60 more troops to the same area.
Today, MONUC has transported 105 FARDC soldiers to the zone. A deployment by MONUC of 105 other Congolese soldiers will be completed tomorrow. The United Nations Mission is also assisting the Congolese army in the preparation of defensive positions, as well as logistics support.
FARDC military sources in Dungu reported that 240 troops were deployed in Faradje on 26 December, whilst UPDF and SPLA (South Sudan's army) arrived in Doruma to improve the security in the area.
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