A recent surge of violent attacks targeting civilians in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has sparked alarm, according to a UN spokesperson. Over the past three days, at least 34 civilians have been killed in a series of assaults in Ituri and North Kivu provinces. In Ituri’s Irumu and Mambasa regions, 15 civilians lost their lives between Tuesday and Thursday, leading to a displacement of residents to neighboring villages in North Kivu.
In North Kivu’s Oicha area, an armed group’s assault near the Ituri province border resulted in the deaths of 19 civilians on Tuesday and Wednesday. Reports from local partners indicate that numerous civilians were targeted while working in their fields, with some individuals still unaccounted for. The gold-rich Mambasa region in Ituri has witnessed the killing of approximately 130 civilians and the abduction of over 500 others since mid-March.
The violence has forced more than 68,000 individuals to flee within Mambasa and towards the neighboring Tshopo province. Additionally, over 310,000 people have been displaced across Beni and Lubero territories in North Kivu. Humanitarian organizations are currently evaluating the extent of displacement and urgent requirements in the affected areas. The attacks have heightened humanitarian and protection concerns in the northern parts of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, emphasizing the need for all conflicting parties to halt assaults on civilians and adhere to international humanitarian laws.
