U.N.: 150 killed in Burundi attack
(CNN) -- Armed attackers have killed up to 150 people in a raid on a refugee camp in Burundi, according to the United Nations.
"It's devastation, you can hear people wailing and screaming," said David Short, a spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, describing the scene in Gatumba, near the capital Bujumbura.
"People are traumatized. It's a terrible sight. People have been burnt out, all their possessions burnt, their families killed. It's devastation."
Short said it was unclear who carried out Friday night's attack, which he described as "fairly large and well planned."
The United Nations has been working to stem humanitarian violations in the war-torn central African country.
On Thursday, the top U.N. envoy to Burundi Carolyn McAskie blamed the human rights abuses -- which include summary executions, torture, sexual violence and arbitrary detentions -- on both sides "for political and military gain."
Thousands of Banyamulenge refugees have fled the Democratic Republic of Congo in recent months, taking shelter in camps in Burundi run by the U.N. refugee agency.
The refugees say they are terrified of being targeted by government troops, local militia and Congolese civilians in eastern Congo.
The latest attack took place hours after Congolese Vice President Azarias Ruberwa ended a two-day visit to Burundi where he wanted to convince refugees to return home.
But the Tutsi Congolese refugees have demanded the dismantling of armed groups and the reunification of the Congolese army before they return.
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Associated Press contributed to this report.
