More than 230,000 people have been displaced since the beginning of the year amid escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to the United Nations. The UN refugee agency UNHCR on Friday described the displacement as \u201cthe most alarming\u201d humanitarian crisis in the world. The resource-rich eastern provinces of North and South Kivu \u2013 which are home to more than 4.6 million displaced people according to the agency \u2013 have been mired in conflict for three decades, with the M23 rebel group becoming one of the most powerful armed groups in recent years. Designated a \u201cterrorist movement\u201d by the DRC government, M23 has seized large areas of eastern DRC since 2021, and earlier this month, took control of the town of Masisi in North Kivu. Earlier this month, Bertrand Bisimwa, the head of the political wing of M23, told Al media that the group is fighting a \u201cdefensive\u201d war. \u201cEscalating clashes between non-state armed groups and the Congolese army in North and South Kivu provinces are intensifying one of the world\u2019s most alarming yet under-reported humanitarian crises,\u201d said Eujin Byun, spokesperson for UNHCR speaking to reporters in Geneva. The conflict, Byun warned, is \u201cmarked by widespread human rights violations and massive forced displacement\u201d. Byun noted that intense fighting in the Masisi and Lubero territories forced approximately 150,000 people to flee their homes between January 1 and 6 alone. Many returned briefly during a lull in fighting on January 4, but were forced to flee once more as new fighting erupted, according to the UN. In South Kivu\u2019s Fizi territory, the local government has requested international assistance, noting that 84,000 people have sought refuge there. Byun cautioned that civilians are enduring \u201cindiscriminate bombings and sexual violence,\u201d with children also being targeted. \u201cAlready, dire humanitarian conditions are worsening rapidly, and access to these vulnerable populations is severely restricted by insecurity, roadblocks and the presence of violent armed actors,\u201d Byun added. UNHCR has stated it is ready to provide assistance as soon as access is restored, but emphasised that more funding is urgently needed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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