As refugees fleeing the fighting deep in Africa's Democratic Republic of Congo continue to gush across the border into southwest Uganda, MAP International is rushing medicines and emergency supplies to the area.
Thus far more than 15,000 men, women and children have crossed into Uganda since August, many walking for more than two days in order to try to reach safety. Recently, more than 1,300 Congolese refugees crossed the border in a single day. Some had lost every single member of their family during attacks.
"The situation is very desperate," said Dr. Ravi Jayakaran, senior director for MAP International's global programs. "Many people left home with just a very few items - no more than what they could carry on their backs. They have had very little food or water. They are exhausted, and many have succumbed to disease. They need help."
MAP International is providing medicines for a clinic in Kinzizi and has also provided thousands of dollars in financial assistance.
The Congolese are escaping rebel attacks on their villages and are relocating in refugee settlements, some as far as 200 miles from the border.
Formerly known as Zaire, the DRC has its first democratic government in 40 years and is rich in gold, diamonds and minerals. However, war erupted in 1998 and, though the fighting officially ended in 2003, violence has continued in what has become one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. More than 5 million people have died due to violence, hunger and disease during the past 10 years, and about 45,000 people continue to die each month. Tens of thousands of women and girls have been raped. The United Nations peacekeeping force in the region is 17,000 strong - the largest in the world - but has been limited in its ability to bring stability to the country's population of nearly 60 million people.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
Palestinian refugee Majida Al-Hamid walks along a street in a popular neighborhood for Palestinian immigrants, known as "Patronato", in Santiago January 13, 2009. Al-Hamid arrived six months ago from a refugee ...
