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Hundreds of Refugees in Uganda Displaced After Food Riot

Halima Athumani

   KAMPALA, UGANDA - The United Nations refugee agency has moved hundreds
   of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda to a safer location following
   violence that broke out over accusations of stolen food.

   The violence was sparked by an incident July 13, in which youth from
   the Nuer community allegedly stole maize from the farm of the Kuku
   community in Palorinya, Obongi district, northern Uganda.

   Even though the perpetrators were punished, the situation escalated
   into violence. Three boys aged 16, 17 and 18 were killed, seven others
   were wounded, and some 280 shelters were set ablaze.

   The U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, has relocated 762 South Sudanese
   refugees due to fear of retaliation attacks. Eighty percent of these,
   according to the UNHCR, are children.

   Duniya Khan, the UNHCR Uganda spokesperson, told VOA by phone that even
   though the tension has diminished, there is still a potential for more
   violence.

   "If 27 percent of the population do not see any hope and they don't
   have better chances of getting ... secondary schooling education,
   majority lack higher education and meaningful employment opportunities,
   then they are very vulnerable to be engaged in ... subversive
   activities or negative coping mechanisms," Khan said.

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