United Nations Radio

Recent attacks by the so-called Lord's Resistance Army in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo have driven thousands of Congolese to South Sudan.

mother rests with child

According to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, a team went to South Sudan about 35 miles from the border wit the Democratic Republic of Congo -DRC- after receiving reports from the local authorities about new arrivals.
Spokesman Ron Redmond says the UNHCR team registered more than 600 people who said they fled their homes following an attack by the LRA.

" The number of refugees in Lasu is actually estimated at up to 2,000 and we are continuing verification. Our team found out that many parents had gone back to the DRC in search of food for their children. Many of the children had gone several days without eating. Most of the refugee population in Lasau are living in the open under trees."

UNHCR says the refugees are relying on the generosity of the local population, but they far outnumber the local residents who have limited food stocks.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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