United Nations, May 9 (IANS) A new wave of deadly attacks against civilians in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has raised alarm, a UN spokesman has said.
In the last three days, at least 34 civilians have reportedly been killed in a series of attacks in Ituri and North Kivu provinces, said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the UN secretary-general on Friday (local time), quoting the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
In Ituri’s Irumu and Mambasa, attacks reportedly killed at least 15 civilians between Tuesday and Thursday. The violence forced people to flee to neighbouring villages in North Kivu province, said Haq.
In North Kivu’s Oicha, an attack by an armed group near the border with Ituri province reportedly killed at least 19 civilians on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Local partners reported that several civilians were attacked while working in their fields, and other people remain missing, he said.
In Ituri’s gold-rich Mambasa, at least 130 civilians have reportedly been killed and more than 500 others abducted since mid-March.
The violence has displaced over 68,000 people within Mambasa and into neighbouring Tshopo province, while more than 310,000 people have also been displaced across Beni and Lubero territories in North Kivu province, said the deputy spokesman.
“Our humanitarian partners are currently assessing displacement and urgent needs,” said Haq.
“As you can imagine, these attacks are heightening humanitarian and protection concerns in the northern parts of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. We reiterate our call on all parties to the conflict to immediately cease attacks against civilians and on all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law,” he added.
–IANS
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