The United Nations has issued a stern condemnation of the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where intensified combat between rebel forces and national troops is triggering a severe humanitarian emergency. Bruno Lemarquis, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the DRC, voiced profound alarm over a significant surge in hostilities involving the M23 rebel group (Alliance of the Congo River-March 23 Movement), the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC), and their allied militias.
Lemarquis highlighted a specific period of intense violence from December 2 to 7, during which heavy artillery and aerial bombardments struck densely populated areas. The territories of Uvira, Walungu, Mwenga, Shabunda, Kabare, Fizi, and Kalehe were particularly affected. The relentless nature of the fighting has severely hampered emergency response efforts, leaving medical teams unable to evacuate the wounded from conflict zones.
In a grave development, the UN coordinator reported targeted assaults on vital civilian infrastructure, including educational institutions. Such actions represent direct and serious breaches of international humanitarian law, which explicitly protects non-combatants and essential public assets during periods of conflict.
“I am deeply dismayed by the devastating impact of this fighting on the civilian population. It is imperative to prevent further casualties from being added to the already tragic death toll,” Lemarquis stated emphatically. He further demanded an immediate cessation to the use of explosive weaponry in urban centers, declaring that “Civilians and civilian infrastructure are not targets.”
The human cost of this violence is staggering. Preliminary UN assessments indicate that the recent wave of fighting has displaced over 200,000 individuals within the province since the start of December. Furthermore, a massive cross-border exodus is underway, with thousands of refugees fleeing into neighboring nations, including Burundi and Rwanda, in search of safety.