More than 170 killed in rebel attack on camp for displaced Ugandans

Published: 2004-02-23

LIRA, Uganda (CNS) -- More than 170 people were killed after rebels attacked a displaced persons' camp in northern Uganda, said a Catholic missionary stationed in the area. Father Sebat Ayala said up to 300 rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army descended upon Barlonyo camp, about 12 miles from Lira, Feb. 21 and started bombing the camp in the evening. During the three-hour attack, the rebels also burned a number of huts. The Eritrean missionary visited the camp the next morning to help survivors. "Myself, I counted 121 bodies," he said. "In one hut, I found seven dead bodies still burning -- in another one, about three. All the bodies were just scattered around the camp." The priest said 173 people were killed, and by the morning of Feb. 22 more than 50 bodies had been buried in a mass grave. According to witnesses, the rebels warned some residents of the 4,800-person camp to run away, while some were told to hide in their huts, said Father Ayala.

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