Caritas Internationalis (Vatican City)
31 December 2008
press release
Caritas is shocked by its staff reports of a series of massacres in the Democratic Republic of Congo carried out by Ugandan rebels on Christmas Day and the days following.
Caritas Internationalis, the confederation of 162 national Catholic charities, says it has received disturbing reports from the field of a killing spree carried out by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a Ugandan rebel group.
Caritas Dungu-Doruma, the local Caritas, say that over 400 people have been killed in the attacks in an area of northern Congo including Faradje, Duru, Gurba, Doruma, and Province Orientale.
The Director of Caritas Dungu-Doruma says that the Ugandan rebels attacked a Christmas Day concert in Faradje City organised by the Catholic church there. He says the rebels returned the next morning to continue their killing spree. He says approximately 150 people were killed over the two days.
At the same time, another attack was perpetrated in Duru, north of Dungu. Caritas reports 75 people killed and the Church burned down.
Caritas reports that the killing continued along the Sudan border, including in Bangadi, Doruma and Gurba. Caritas reports 48 dead in Bangadi and that in Gurba 213 people were killed. Approximately 6,500 people have found refuge in the area with the Catholic church.
Caritas also reports that children are being abducted by the LRA, who use them as child soldiers.
Caritas Dungu-Doruma is pleading for peace and urging the Congolese government to provide security to the population from these attacks.
Caritas says that the areas have been plundered, leaving the people in desperate need of aid. Caritas says that the number of dead bodies risk spreading disease.
Over the past two months, villagers have been uprooted because of Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) attacks. The rebels have burnt villages and killed and abducted people who cross their path.
Caritas Internationalis is supporting the work of Caritas Dungu-Doruma through a global appeal to its members. Caritas Dungu-Doruma carried our a food distribution on 14 December to 4000 families.
Caritas has given out items such as covers, clothes, cutlery, plates and soap in the diocese of Dungu-Doruma to help those who have left everything behind.
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2008 Caritas Internationalis. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
LRA lunatics and sadists need to be trounced once and for all - I'm not bothered that several Afrikan armies are now on their tail and they've been chased almost to the Central African Republic now. Too bad much more of the world did not hear about this sick massacre, due to coverage of Israel's massacres in the Gaza Strip. But the LRA and Mr. Kony will hopefully be buried for good in '09 - they are a "rebel" group that stands for nothing but mutilation, mass murder, child abduction, rape, and total insanity. Uganda is ready for peace and unity. DR Congo is almost ready for the same. South Sudan too. The degenerate LRA is one of the last obstacles.
I agree 100% with what you have said. I have stated in the past you cannot make a deal with a monster and his legions of demons! Yes it is ashamed that Isreal massacare in the Gaza Strip was the International headline but we must keep these blogs and responses going no matter what. Kony is a monster of the worse kind because he will kill his own people and claims he know's GOD. Those who support or help this type of evil are no better than Kony and his evil crew! Kony has destroyed so many lives and generations to come only GOD Almighty will be the one to save what is left of any goodness in this region of the world. Why did it take so long for the countries to come together and go after this fool, Kony! He has been hiding in plain sight all along. I hope he is showed no mercy! His whole army should be executed! Let's start 2009 out with finding this fool Kony and get rid of him, no prison only death! This man is just as evil as Hitler, Mussolini and all the rest of those who would do harm to civilized society. I will pray that the soliders looking for Kony and his hinchmen are found quickly. Death to the evil that men like Kony would do to others. GOD save the children of Africa! Find this monster and kill him! Let him be tried by those he has harmed!
The Gate Keeper
Active Discussions: Kony Rebels Kill 400 Congo Villagers