Fresh fighting sparks fears of new displacement of civilians in DR of Congo

New operations by the army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) against Mayi-Mayi militia in Katanga are sparking fears of a further flight of civilians in a region where 120,000 people have already fled their homes since November, United Nations emergency officials said today.

Cases of human rights abuses are increasing, food security is deteriorating, and reinforcements of both humanitarian workers and funding are urgently needed, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) added.

Humanitarian officials in the field report that if food supplies don’t arrive soon, deaths and illness will greatly increase among the displaced people. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said lack of funding and poor infrastructure was slowing the arrival of provisions.

After taking 12 days to cover 480 kilometres, a WFP food convoy remains blocked at Kabango, one of the areas of combat that is located 120 kilometres south of Mitwaba, because of a broken bridge.

In Dubie, where more than 16,000 displaced people have taken refuge, mortality rates are now 2.5 per day and tensions have risen between locals and newcomers, OCHA reported.