The United Nations on Monday expressed concern over the deaths of ten South Sudanese refugees killed by residents of the region of Uganda where they were settled, calling for increased security and an investigation .
On Saturday evening, residents attacked the Rhino camp (west), near the border with South Sudan, where nearly 100,000 refugees live.
Ten people were killed and nineteen injured, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which also reports ten missing, in a statement.
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The attack was reportedly carried out in retaliation for an argument between refugees and locals near a water point.
In particular, a cattle belonging to an inhabitant of the region was mistreated.
"This violent and disproportionate reaction from the host community threatens peaceful coexistence in rural areas, where refugees live among Ugandans,"
said Joël Boutroue, UNHCR representative in Uganda.
"In an environment where resources are scarce, tragic incidents like this are a red flag, as local communities such as refugees face increased difficulties in accessing basic services and livelihoods. »
, He added.
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The agency called for calm and asked the Ugandan authorities to take
"further steps to ensure security and investigate this tragic incident, in order to clarify the circumstances in which it took place, as well as the role of local authorities"
.
Uganda, with a population of nearly 42 million, hosts nearly 1.4 million refugees, more than any country in Africa, according to UNHCR.
Most of them come from neighboring South Sudan, where a deadly civil war has claimed more than 380,000 lives in six years and triggered a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
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