5,000 Persons Displaced, 85 Houses Burnt In North Kivu As Violence Escalates
Clashes between the Democratic Republic of Congo national army and militia groups within the month of December have resulted in the displacement of 5,000 persons from the villages of Mahanga and Kasopo in the Nyamboko 1 group.
According to a just-published report of the Coordination Bureau of the UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs, (UNOCHA), the displaced persons moved to the villages of Buginanyana, Kaina and Luhando and others towards the health zone of Kibua in the Walikale territory.
The most serious situation was reported in the Bapfuna group area where fighting between the national army and militia groups that lasted from December 18 to 20, 2020 resulted in the forced displacement of 3,150 persons from villages situated on the Lukweti-Nyabiondo highway, northwest of Masisi into the bushes.
In the course of the fighting, according to the UNOCHA, 85 houses were looted and several women were sexually violated by armed individuals.
“95 per cent of the displaced persons returned to their homes after two days in spite of the persistent insecurity in the zones,” reveals the UNOCHA.
The situation has provoked the movement and displacement of people in Nyabiondo who fled into bushes and remain in the forests as of the time this report is being filed.
The clashes have since extended to Myandja, northwest of Masisi on the Loashi-Lushebere highway also forcing civilian populations in the zone to abandon their houses and flee to the forests, according to the UNOCHA.
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