Ongoing militia infighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo is forcing thousands of refugees to flee into Uganda.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency on Thursday, Charles Yaxley, UNHCR Uganda communications officer, confirmed that 6,000 new arrivals came to the country in April.
This is compared to less than 4,000 in the previous three months, with Yaxley describing the situation as “deteriorating”.
According to the UNHCR, refugees report a number of armed groups engaged in the fighting, including the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda-FDLR, the Allied Democratic Force and the Mai Mai militia, among others.
Yaxley told Anadolu Agency: “What we do know is that they are attacking villages, murdering civilians, burning houses to the ground, raping women and kidnapping children and young men into their ranks.”