More than one million people have been forced to flee their homes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since the start of the year. This is according to a statement by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) this Tuesday.

“In the last eight weeks, UNHCR and its partners have recorded multiple attacks by armed groups on displacement sites and villages,” it said in a statement.

It added the attacks were mainly in Djugu Territory in Ituri province; in Fizi and Mwenga Territories in South Kivu province; and Masisi and Rutshuru Territories in North Kivu province.

“Violence has displaced more than one million people in the last six months in these areas,” the refugee agency said.

The UNHCR urged the authorities in the DRC to strengthen the police and military presence in the east “to improve the security situation and hold the perpetrators accountable.

Source Aljazeera

By Moma Sandrine