DR Congo: Haut Uele District, Orientale Province Situation Report No. 6, 06 Jan 2009

• New LRA incursions in several localities, civilians killed, houses pillaged and burned

- More than 13,000 persons face critical humanitarian situation in Doruma

Security/military Context

On Sunday, 4 January, rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) launched new incursions in Napopo (12km north of Bangadi) killing seven persons and burning several houses, according to local sources. Abductions were also reported but no numbers are available.

On Saturday, 3 January, according to local sources, rebels attacked Masombo (60km north of Dungu).

On Friday, 2 January, the LRA attacked the village Nagero (128km east of Dungu), administrative center of the Garamba National Park. Eight persons were killed and six wounded. The attackers also damaged the small airplane of the Park and pillaged the houses of Park staff.

In Dungu, the situation remains tense. After a wave of panic amongst the population on Sunday, 4 January, a fragile calm pertains at the moment since the security reinforcements by FARDC patrols in the city.

Populations Movements

After the attacks on Napopo, Masombo and Nagero, new population movements towards neighboring localities have been observed. No figures could be established yet.

The humanitarian situation of the 13,573 IDPs in Doruma is critical. The IDPs regrouped at the elementary school of Ndolomo, in the neighborhood of Bomkasekele, and at the old UNHCR transit site in Koproko. The IDPs originate from 13 villages in the vicinity of Doruma from which they have been displaced by the LRA since 26 December. Humanitarian sources report that the IDPs are in urgent need of food, NFI, medicine and drinking water. Due to the overpopulation of all three sites, the risk of a cholera epidemic is very high.

For more information please visit the website: HTUhttp://www.rdc-humanitaire.netU

Contacts:

Jean-Charles Dupin, Chef de bureau, OCHA Bunia, HTUdupin@un.orgUTH, Tél.: +243 998 604 325

Ivo Brandau, Chargé d'information, OCHA-RDC, HTUbrandau@un.orgUTH, Tél. : + 243 815 142 956

Noel Tsekouras, Desk Officer, OCHA New York, HTUtsekouras@un.orgUTH, Tél.: + 1 917 367 93 67