UGANDA 28/4/2004 12:20 KITGUM, CITY OF THE æOCTURNAL DISPLACED?/b> Church/Religious Affairs, Standard æt least 17,000, perhaps as many as 20,000 people in Kitgum and the surrounding area spent the night away from home, and they will do the same in the days to come. The situation will continue until someone manages to put a stop to the acts of violence carried out by the rebels of LRA (Lordæ Resistance Army),?a local religious source told MISNA, describing the necessarily ætray?existence of thousands of people in Kitgum, capital of the northern district of the same name. æt sunset, they are forced to abandon their homes, and are able to return only at dawn the following day, in the hope of finding the belongings that they left behind, and of being able to resume æormal?life, at least until sunset,?said the source. Yesterday, MISNA released the news that thousands of people have been pouring into KItgum for days following reports of attacks and ambushes and persistent rumours that the rebels are mounting a series of large-scale operations. æhis is a phenomenon that is completely new: north Uganda is the only region in the world to have nocturnal displaced people,?continues the source, explaining that æhe people cannot do otherwise. Every family has now seen a child abducted or a loved one beaten or killed by the rebels? The figures pertaining to this night-time exodus are worrying: æn the province of Kitgum, at least 7,000 people are seeking shelter, particularly in church and hospital structures, while there are at least 10,000 in the city,?explains the interlocutor. The displaced are right to flee, says the source: æumerous homes were looted last night as well. Fortunately, there were no victims, given that with sundown all the homes empty. However, death comes easily in north Uganda. This morning, for example, intense gunfire was heard around 15 kilometres northeast of Kitgum. I would have liked to have gone to see what was going on, but I soldier stopped me: æhe roads are not safe ?he told me ?it is better if you do not go.æLC] N¬±êï‰Ç²,µçhžØ^"wèr‰§zÜ(®Hm¶Ÿÿà "ú ¢g(º
