100 000 displaced by clashes

2008-09-30 14:10

Geneva - Fresh fighting between government troops and rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has forced more than 100 000 people to flee over the past month, the Red Cross said on Tuesday.

"We have been witnessing a major deterioration in the humanitarian situation in the Kivus (regions) since the resumption of hostilities," said Max Hadorn, head of delegation for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

"Thousands of people have been displaced, often several times, and they urgently require aid," he said.

The ICRC said that many violations of international humanitarian law had been committed in the North and South Kivu provinces since government and rebel forces resumed fighting on August 28, including rape and looting.

Access to the affected regions is difficult, but the ICRC has been able to cater to the displaced and found that many families had to flee their homes without being able to take anything.

They were in urgent need of medical care and safe drinking water, it said, adding that it was delivering water for 10 000 people in North Kivu and had provided 17 health-care facilities with medicines and other supplies.

The aid agency called on all parties to the conflict to abide by international humanitarian law and to allow the safe and rapid delivery of aid to civilians.

Fresh fighting was reported to have broken out in North Kivu over the weekend after an offensive by government forces.

"The FARDC (government troops) attacked our positions early this morning in Rugari," 45km north of Nord-Kivu provincial capital Goma, rebel spokesperson Bertrand Bisimwa told AFP by telephone.

- AFP