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‘Comprehensive response’ needed to protect civilians in eastern DR Congo

‘Comprehensive response’ needed to protect civilians in eastern DR Congo

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Following a rise in attacks on civilians allegedly committed by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) armed group in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), coupled with attacks against Ebola workers, an independent assessment of the UN peacekeeping response by the MONUSCO Mission, was established last December.  

The independent assessment found that in the months of November and December alone, more than 260 civilians, mainly women and children, were killed, by presumed ADF combatants in brutal attacks, mostly at night.  

It also concluded that protecting civilians in Beni territory requires a comprehensive UN response. 

Lieutenant General Carlos Alberto Dos Santos Cruz, who led the assessment team, was at UN Headquarters in New York on Monday to brief the Security Council and told UN News’s Monica Grayley that the armed groups main agenda is criminal, not political.   

 

Audio Credit
Monica Grayley, UN News - Portuguese
Audio Duration
3'22"
Photo Credit
UN Photo/Sylvain Liechti