DRC refugees brave lions
2008-12-01 14:16
Ishasha - Tree-climbing lions are among the perils facing thousands of Congolese refugees as they flee into neighbouring Uganda to escape a new upsurge of fighting.
The route to sanctuary leads through the rugged Virunga and Queen Elizabeth National Parks, prowled by a group of lions famed for hiding in trees, leopards and other dangerous beasts.
Katsuva Paluku, the head a family of four that straggled into the refugee camp at Ishasha from Rutshuru in Democratic Republic of Congo, said two women vanished in the park.
"We fear they've been eaten by lions," the 33-year-old said. "When people move in small groups of three or four, the lions don't spare them. What we did was to wait for other families and then walk in a big group of 30 or 40."
Forces loyal to Congolese Tutsi rebel leader General Laurent Nkunda launched a new offensive in August, routing government troops and seizing swathes of territory in North Kivu province.
Although he said he would cease fire last month, his men have continued attacking Congolese and Rwandan Hutu militia allies of the government. Nkunda says some of the Hutus were involved in Rwanda's 1994 genocide of Tutsis.
Scores of Congolese policemen are among more than 15 000 people who have fled across the Ugandan border in recent days. At least they had vehicles to flee in and assault rifles to fend off any hungry animals.
"It's true some people have been attacked by lions but we don't have numbers or names," said one park ranger who also fled to Ishasha. "Now we're refugees here, we cannot do anything."
Local police warned a Reuters team not to walk outside the camp after 21:00 because of attacks by the big cats.
Once in Ishasha, inside the park, the struggle to survive does not let up.
Chantal Kavuta, a Tutsi mother of three, has to keep an eye on her children - while also pushing and shoving to get her hands on any of the food aid given out by humanitarian workers.
She said she could not even think about returning home while the guerrillas were hunting for recruits in the area.
"They are looking for children above 10-years-old for child soldiers," Kavuta told Reuters. "They kill anyone who they think is a Hutu or a supporter of the government."
Bertrand Bisimwa, a spokesperson for Nkunda's National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), said it was untrue that the rebel force recruited children or killed civilians.
"We appeal to the civilian populations to work with us to make sure that peace returns to Congo," Bisimwa said.
At least one million civilians have been displaced by clashes between the CNDP, the army, local Mai Mai militias, and Rwandan rebels since Nkunda relaunched his insurgency in late 2006.
Uprooted families watch as blue-uniformed Congolese police officers line up in Ishasha each morning for their daily parade and roll call. But they have turned in their weapons and the pistol holders clipped to each of their belts is empty.
"We cannot even protect ourselves now, but we hope one day we will get back to keeping law and order," said one policeman.
The Ugandan government wants to move the refugees away from the frontier for their own safety.
Just 100m away, Nkunda's rebels can be seen manning the border post on the Congolese side. One old man stands on the road between the checkpoints, seemingly confused.
"I don't know where to go because, as you can see, the rebels are controlling the border," he said in desperation.