More than 200,000 people had to flee Ituri, alarmed Friday, May 8, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The northeast region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has experienced an outbreak of violence since 2017.

"UNHCR remains alarmed by the current spike in violent attacks against local people in Ituri province, DRC, where more than 200,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the past two months," said Charlie Yaxley, spokesperson for the agency, at a virtual conference. "The UNHCR calls on all parties to the conflict to respect civilian lives and humanitarian work. Five million people have been uprooted in the DRC, including 1.2 million in Ituri province."

In Ituri, soldiers from the regular army are fighting the Codeco armed group. The latter claims to defend the interests of the Lendu community, farmers, against another community, the Hema - breeders and traders.

More than 700 civilians have been killed in the new violence since December 2017, according to the United Nations which speaks of a possible "crime against humanity".

The violence has intensified since the launch in December 2019 of a military operation under the command of government forces against several armed groups in the province. And the escalation was further accentuated in mid-March with counter-offensives led by these same groups.

More than 3,000 "serious human rights violations" identified

UNHCR and partners say they have identified more than 3,000 "serious human rights violations" in Djugu territory in the past two months, with at least 50 attacks a day against local people. Displaced people have reported acts of "extreme violence" that killed at least 274 civilians, according to Charlie Yaxley.

"More than 140 women have been raped and nearly 8,000 houses burned down," he added. "The vast majority of the displaced are women and children, many of whom live in crowded host families. Others sleep outside or in public buildings such as schools, closed due to the Covid pandemic - 19 ".

UNHCR is also concerned about the lack of access by humanitarian organizations to local populations in the territories of Djugu and Mahagi, as well as the threat of food shortages.

"The lack of financial resources also affects our ability to meet the basic needs of the displaced populations. Our appeal for donations to raise $ 154 million for the benefit of the DRC only reaches 18% of the target," said Charlie Yaxley.

With AFP

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