NAIROBI, 24 August 2007 (IRIN) - CONTENTS:

DRC: Thousands disarm and join reintegration process in Ituri BURUNDI: Congolese camp out in Bujumbura after fleeing South Kivu insecurity UGANDA: Government to consult on new court UGANDA: Returnees among thousands displaced by floods KENYA: Insecurity, conflict affect education in northern region

DRC-UGANDA: UN peacekeepers caught up in continuing unrest in North Kivu

BURUNDI: Congolese camp out in Bujumbura after fleeing South Kivu insecurity

Several hundred people from the Democratic Republic of Congo have arrived in Burundi's capital Bujumbura to seek refugee status after fleeing violence in the South Kivu region.

The Congolese, from various ethnic groups including the Banyamulenge, Balilo, Bashi, and Babembe, have been camped in a playing field since the end of July.

Kakongo Lwakira, 54, told IRIN: "We fled a situation of war in the Uvira zone. I lost all my properties and my house was totally destroyed by combating groups."

Full report http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=73860

DRC: Thousands disarm and join reintegration process in Ituri

Some 3,500 more militia members from the troubled eastern Democratic of Congo province Ituri handed in their weapons during the first two weeks of August, a government official said.

Nutmba Luaba, the new commissioner of the national disarmament and reintegration programme, had issued a deadline of 17 August for rebels to join the process.

"I think we are now done with armed groups in Ituri," he said on 20 August.

Full report http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=73839

UGANDA: Government to consult on new court

Legal proceedings against Ugandan rebel leaders may be held in a special court instead of the International Criminal Court, a government minister said on 19 August.

Ruhakana Rugunda, interior minister and head of the delegation to the talks between the government and the Lord's Resistance Army, said the option of a new court will be debated and consultations held in conflict affected areas.

"We find that there is a need for a court with special status as the best legal framework that will best handle the situation," he told reporters.

Full report http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=73810

UGANDA: Returnees among thousands displaced by floods

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced by floods after heavy rain submerged whole villages in eastern Uganda, a senior government official said.

Musa Ecweru, assistant minister for relief, disaster preparedness and refugees, described the situation as "catastrophic".

"The region has had rains for the last two months and homes have been submerged, bridges swept away and roads have become impassable," he said. "Many people have sought refuge in churches and areas of raised ground, while others have left the affected areas to live with relatives."

Full report http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=73811

KENYA: Insecurity, conflict affect education in northern region

Poverty and frequent conflicts among pastoralist communities in northern Kenya have prevented thousands of children from enrolling in school and made them more likely to commit acts of violence, local leaders and government officials said.

Hassan Noor Hassan, Rift Valley Provincial Commissioner, said school age youngsters have been involved in recent clashes between communities in parts of Samburu, Laikipia and Marsabit Districts.

"The high number of school age children not attending classes and [school] dropouts must be addressed to stop this trend and keep them away from the conflicts," he said. "The Ministry of Education and Youth Affairs must urgently initiate programmes to enrol and take these children back to school."

Full report

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=73834

DRC-UGANDA: UN peacekeepers caught up in continuing unrest in North Kivu

Instability in the Rusthuru region of North Kivu, which included an attack on UN peacekeepers, caused the temporary displacement of more than 10,000 people, officials said.

UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo military spokesman Major Gabriel De Brosses said trouble flared up when the North Kivu brigades were pelted by rocks during an incident in Bunagana village on 20 August.

"These people, some of whom were armed, wanted to stop the blue helmets from getting into the village," he said.

Full report http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=73896

© IRIN. All rights reserved. More humanitarian news and analysis: http://www.irinnews.org

IRIN news