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Cablegate: Residents Flee Fighting Near Drc-Uganda Border

VZCZCXRO0166
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1841 3421217
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 081217Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5285
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2075
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0475
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001841

SIPDIS

KAMPALA FOR REFCOORD GFREDERICK

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM PGOV CG
SUBJECT: RESIDENTS FLEE FIGHTING NEAR DRC-UGANDA BORDER

REF: Kinshasa 1260

1. (U) Initial press reports indicating up to 12,000 people fleeing
fighting between DRC government and renegade forces near the border
town of Bunagana (septel) appear to be somewhat inflated. Jens
Hesemann of UNHCR Kinshasa told us December 7 that the UNHCR office
in Kampala reports that 7000 Congolese entered the Kisoro district
of Uganda as a result of fighting in DRC and that some have begun
returning.

2. (U) Hesemann said UNHCR-Uganda conducted an assessment mission
December 6 to determine the extent of the migration and humanitarian
needs. The agency began providing emergency shelter, water and
rations to refugees remaining on the Ugandan side of the border on
December 7. Hesemann said UNHCR-Uganda has not been able to confirm
Uganda press reports that seven refugees were killed and seven other
people, including four Ugandans, were injured as a result of
artillery launched from the DRC side of the border.

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3. (U) Information about people displaced on the Congolese side of
the border remains incomplete, and UN agencies have not yet
conducted an assessment mission to affected areas. Some IDPs have
begun to show up at previously-established centers and are receiving
assistance there.

Sake update
-----------

4. (U) Access by humanitarian agencies and NGOs remains limited in
the area around Sake, site of earlier fighting initiated by
Nkunda-allied forces November 25-27 (reftel). According to
UNHCR-Kinshasa, the World Food Program and NGOs Solidarities and
Norwegian Refugee Council are providing support for nearly 3000
families in and around the area. USAID's OFDA director has received
reports indicating that some two-thirds of the population has
returned to the town spontaneously. Several reports confirm that
dwellings and businesses there were looted, although not destroyed,
during and after the fighting.
MEECE

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