The UN says forced displacement is one of the “most alarming” humanitarian crises in the world.
More than 230,000 people have been displaced since the start of the year amid escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to the United Nations.
The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, on Friday called the displacement “the most alarming humanitarian crisis” in the world.
The resource-rich eastern provinces of North and South Kivu, home to more than 4.6 million displaced people according to the agency, have been mired in conflict for three decades, with the M23 rebel group having become one of the the most powerful armed groups in the country. recent years.
Designated a “terrorist movement” by the DRC government, M23 has seized large areas of eastern DRC since 2021 and, earlier this month, took control of the town of Masisi in North Kivu .
Earlier this month, Bertrand Bisimwa, head of M23’s political wing, told Al Jazeera that the group was waging a “defensive” war.
“The escalation of clashes between non-state armed groups and the Congolese army in the provinces of North and South Kivu is intensifying one of the most alarming and yet underestimated humanitarian crises in the world,” said Eujin Byun. , UNHCR spokesperson, speaking to journalists in Geneva.
The conflict, Byun warned, is “marked by widespread human rights violations and massive forced displacement.”
Byun noted that intense fighting in Masisi and Lubero territories forced around 150,000 people to flee their homes between January 1 and 6 alone. Many returned briefly during a lull in fighting on January 4, but were forced to flee once again when new fighting broke out, according to the UN.
In the Fizi territory of South Kivu, the local government requested international aid, finding that 84,000 people had taken refuge there.
Byun warned that civilians are experiencing “indiscriminate bombing and sexual violence,” with children also being targeted.
“Already, dire humanitarian conditions are rapidly deteriorating and access to these vulnerable populations is severely restricted by insecurity, roadblocks and the presence of violent armed actors,” Byun added.
UNHCR said it was ready to provide assistance as soon as access was restored, but stressed that additional funding was urgently needed.
