Militant groups in the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) persist in targeting displaced civilians through a series of increasingly deadly assaults this month.
UNHCR, in collaboration with partner organizations, expresses deep concern over reports of eight significant attacks in Ituri Province affecting displaced individuals within the first ten days of February. These attacks have been marked by killings, abductions, the plundering of livestock and food supplies, and the burning of homes.
Most recently, on Tuesday, February 15, militia members brutally killed 17 people with machetes in the Lando area of Djugu Territory. Among the victims were eight children, and assailants set fire to shelters, resulting in the tragic deaths of a mother and her two children.
UNHCR calls for an immediate cessation of violence against civilians, particularly displaced populations who have often been compelled to flee multiple times. The large-scale and recurrent displacements are straining the resources of nearby settlements where these individuals seek refuge.
This surge in violence follows a particularly devastating attack on the Plaine Savo displaced persons site on February 1, also in Djugu Territory, Ituri. During this incident, 62 people lost their lives at the hands of militia members, while another 47 sustained injuries. As a result, 25,000 individuals were displaced from the area, seeking shelter in Bule town where UNHCR and its partner CARITAS have been providing emergency aid.
Despite the state of siege imposed by the government in May 2021 to restore stability to the region, violence and abuses against unarmed civilians and displaced persons persist, further destabilizing vast areas of North Kivu Province. In Masisi territory earlier this month, seven displaced persons fled after being whipped for failing to pay a tax imposed by armed groups, while six others were abducted and released only upon payment of a ransom. In Beni, ongoing brutality against local residents has forced thousands to flee their homes in the past week alone. Civil society organizations have highlighted the immense pressure and trauma inflicted by these relentless attacks on local communities, especially as displaced individuals are unable to return home.
Moreover, intercommunal conflicts in South Kivu have displaced at least 10,000 people since the start of February.
According to OCHA, between January and November 2021, 2.7 million people were displaced in the DRC, with a total of 5.6 million internally displaced persons recorded by the end of November 2021.
UNHCR urges all parties to allow humanitarian organizations access to provide life-saving aid to those in need. Kidnappings and assaults on aid workers, which have been on the rise, must cease to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of assistance without compromising the safety of humanitarian personnel.
The persistent lack of funding for the region and throughout the DRC is hindering the provision of urgently needed aid, with UNHCR’s programs requiring US$225.4 million to address the pressing needs of displaced individuals.