UN Refugee Agency assisting 100,000 displaced persons in DR Congo

Over 100,000 people have fled eastern DR Congo in recent months due to the ongoing battles between military offensive against Hutu militants and banditry by armed groups.

Since December 2009 there have been 15,508 new internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled the eastern province of North Kivu. The new arrivals bring the population of camps in and around Kitchanga to 116,000. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is managing 47 IDP Camps in the region, giving the refugees protection and assistance. “We estimate that so far we have registered only a part of the recently displaced population and that many more could be sheltering with host families or hiding in the woods fearing to return to their homes,” said Mr. Mahecic in a UN press release. “These IDPs cannot be accessed due to insecurity and impassable roads.” It is estimated that there are 2.2 million displaced people in DR Congo. The region has had a high number of harassment, human rights abuses, rapes and intimidations against civilians reported by local people.