Police stop DRC refugees from trekking home

Bujumbura, 06 Oct-(ANA)-Police in Burundi have forcibly prevented a group of refugees from leaving a camp because they intended to trek home to Democratic Republic of Congo, according to residents.

"The police fired and we all ran away. Two have been injured; three others lost consciousness because of fear. They have been taken to Kibumbu hospital for care," one refugee said.

A leader of the refugees, Freddy Gakunzi, said police had sealed off the camp early in the morning to prevent about 2,000 refugees in the camp in Gihinga, who have refused to be relocated to another camp in Burundi, from making good their pledge to return to eastern DRC, despite major military operations there.

The camp was officially closed on 30 September. (ANA)

FA/ANA/06 Oct 2009---