|
|
DRC: UN boss urges gov’t to protect civilians from rebel activities
Thu. December 13, 2007 10:33 pm.- By Bonny Apunyu. -
(SomaliNet) Saying fresh clashes in DRC is hurting civilians, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday urged the Congolese government to protect civilians endangered by an offensive against Tutsi rebels and he urged the rebels to lay down their arms.
An estimated 60 000 to 70 000 people already displaced by violence were reported to be on the move again this week because of renewed fighting in the eastern province of North Kivu, Mr. Ban’s spokesperson Marie Okabe said.
Meanwhile, DRC President Joseph Kabila threw more than 20 000 soldiers into a major campaign on December 3 to snuff out renegade Tutsi Gen. Laurent Nkunda's 3-year-old rebellion, which draws on some 4 000 disciplined and battle-hardened Tutsi fighters.
The UN leader is deeply concerned about the intense fighting in North Kivu in recent days which has caused further suffering of the civilian population," his office said in a statement.
"He is particularly troubled by reports of massive displacement and mistreatment of the population."
The army, which is getting logistical support from the UN peacekeeping mission known as MONUC, initially made rapid gains in a two-pronged offensive before meeting dogged resistance in the rugged hills on the threshold of Nkunda's fiefdom.
The statement said the United Nations, through MONUC, supported the government effort to establish its authority over the rebels in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"The secretary-general calls on the government of the DRC to take all measures necessary to protect civilians," it said.
"The secretary-general calls on the forces of Laurent Nkunda to lay down their arms," it added.
Okabe said civilians were fleeing from refugee camps towards the provincial capital, Goma, and that the children's agency UNICEF and the World Food Program were distributing supplies and food despite reduced access to conflict zones.
She said the United Nations was particularly concerned about reports of rapes in North Kivu, where she said there had been 2 700 cases of rape reported between January and October.-Agencies
News Category: Africa
Latest Headlines
|
News 
