UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed concern on Friday over the recent escalation of violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), particularly in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, where the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group continues its offensive.
According to the statement, “Since 26 January, nearly 3,000 people have been killed and 2,880 injured in attacks by the M23 and their allies with heavy weapons used in populated areas, and intense fighting against the armed forces of the DRC and their allies.”
The UN warned that the fighting is taking place near urban areas and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation. At least two such camps have been bombed, and several others forcibly emptied or closed, leaving displaced families without shelter or protection.
According to a statement by UN experts on Thursday, the humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC has worsened, with severe shortages of food, shelter, electricity, and clean water, raising the risk of infectious outbreaks. Medical facilities are overwhelmed, and there are reports of widespread looting of humanitarian facilities, denial of humanitarian access, and increased sexual violence against women and girls.
Mr. Türk highlighted the bombing of hospitals in Goma and a mass prison break at Muzenze Prison, resulting in the rape and killing of female inmates. The UN High Commissioner said, “I am horrified by the spread of sexual violence, which has been an appalling feature of this conflict for a long time. This is likely to worsen in the current circumstances.”
DRC is rich in conflict minerals, which have long been associated with funding violent activities, including killings and human rights abuses. UN Member States have considered establishing “a fact-finding mission to investigate extreme rights violations still being committed in the DRC provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu.”
Despite the M23 group declaring a unilateral ceasefire on Tuesday for humanitarian reasons, reports emerged of continued offensives by the rebel group in Goma, denounced by the Congolese government as a ploy.
