Congo: United Nations expresses concern over ongoing violence

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) expressed deep concern over the killing of internally displaced persons in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Between February and June of this year, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported more than 800 deaths from attacks by local communities in Ituri. At least 715 of them were in the internally displaced persons camp.

More than 20,000 displaced people have been driven from their homes by such attacks, which have fueled acute food insecurity in Ituri.

In recent weeks, fighting between the Congolese army and the M23 group in North Kivu province has displaced more than 160,000 people.

The Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees announced that it has received only 19% of the $225 million needed to meet the growing needs of refugees and displaced persons.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has called on all parties involved to immediately stop this senseless violence that has forced the displacement of tens of thousands of people. The organization also called for respect for international humanitarian and human rights law to protect civilians and staff from violence.

More than 6.5 million people have been displaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo, making the country the largest center for internally displaced people on the African continent.

 

_{Source: UNHCR}