Rape toll grows in DRC

2010-09-02 07:36

New York - UN peacekeepers said on Wednesday they have stepped up patrols in a region of Democratic Republic of Congo where the number of mass rape victims has increased to more than 240.

The UN mission has faced strong criticism over the lack of action to prevent the rapes in a conflict stricken eastern province of the African nation.

The peacekeeping mission said in a statement it has launched Operation Shop Window "with the aim of reassuring the population and showing its commitment to use all resources to carry out its protection mandate".

The statement, released in Kinshasa, said the UN Stabilisation Mission in DRC (Monusco) has now been told of more than 240 rapes of women around the town of Kibua in Nord Kivu province. It had previously given a toll of 179 rapes.

The United Nations has accused Hutu rebels from neighbouring Rwanda and local Mai-Mai militia of carrying out the rapes between July 30 and August 3.

The UN mission said there were new reports of violence since then, including houses looted and about 50 people kidnapped at the small town of Mubi. Two DRC soldiers were killed in the attacks and seven civilians wounded, the UN mission statement said.

The UN Security Council has sent a top UN peacekeeping official to DRC to investigate the rapes and the UN response, which has already been criticised by Security Council members.

Atul Khare, assistant secretary general for peacekeeping operations, is to report to the Security Council on his return to New York next week.

- SAPA