Shocking Exodus: Almost 80,000 Flee DR Congo Amidst Fighting and Horrific Sexual Violence, Reports UNHCR
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to face severe humanitarian challenges as violence intensifies across its eastern provinces. Speaking from Geneva, Patrick Eba, Deputy Director of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) Division of International Protection, painted a grim picture of the situation in North and South Kivu. Sexual violence, human rights abuses, and the looting of civilian properties are rampant, exacerbating the plight of the region’s population.
A significant number of people, close to 80,000, have fled their homes due to clashes between Congolese government forces and M23 rebels, who are reportedly backed by Rwanda. The violence has also forced approximately 61,000 individuals to take refuge in neighboring Burundi since the beginning of the year. “Hundreds of thousands of people are on the move,” Mr. Eba emphasized, highlighting the pervasive instability that grips the region.
The humanitarian crisis is further underscored by alarming rates of sexual violence. In the last two weeks of February alone, a shocking 895 rape cases were reported, averaging more than 60 incidents per day. Alongside sexual violence, civilians face numerous threats, including explosive remnants of war that endanger both children and farmers tending to their fields.
The volatile environment has disrupted humanitarian efforts, with the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) temporarily pausing aid operations in conflict zones. However, efforts are underway to resume emergency food assistance in parts of North Kivu, aiming to reach over 210,000 affected individuals.
The situation is compounded by M23’s actions within the region. According to Mr. Eba, there have been “significant” shifts in population as internally displaced people (IDPs) around Goma are being urged by the de facto authorities to leave their temporary homes in camps, schools, and churches. This has resulted in an estimated 414,000 people being on the move in recent weeks, with only around 17,000 remaining in official IDP sites.
With the insecurity persisting in eastern DRC, Mr. Eba warned that many more may need to seek refuge across borders. He stressed that those fleeing the conflict may require international and regional refugee protection. The importance of “informed decision-making” is critical for any voluntary returns to these conflict-affected zones.
The ongoing crisis in this mineral-rich region has also been affected by the United States’ humanitarian funding freeze. However, a waiver has been granted, exempting DRC from the 90-day suspension. This offers a lifeline to the perpetually underfunded assistance for this decades-long conflict. UNHCR spokesperson Eujin Byun expressed optimism that the agency will continue supporting the emergency.
Currently, over one million Congolese refugees are scattered across Africa, with Uganda hosting more than half. Since the recent M23 offensive in January, Burundi has seen the most new arrivals. Prior to this resurgence of violence, around 6.7 million people were already internally displaced within the DRC, underscoring the urgency of international support and intervention.
Original Source: https://news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2025/03/1160746
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Publish Date: 2025-03-04 17:30:00
