[ad_1]
Increasing violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is displacing more and more people and hinders humanitarian efforts, including operations to stem the spread of Ebola, warned the United Nations refugee agency.
More than 20 people have been killed in recent attacks in the Beni region of North Kivu Province, Congo, and further north in the province of Ituri, both close to the Ugandan border.
UNHCR estimates that more than one million people are displaced in North Kivu. And, he notes, more and more people are fleeing their homes in the face of escalating attacks.
The main rebel groups – the Allied Democratic Forces and the Uganda National Liberation Army – have been active in the Beni region for some time. However, UNHCR spokesman Babar Baloch told the VOA that fighting had broken out in the city for the first time, making staff travel risky.
"Many humanitarian workers have had to stop their activities, but, UNHCR, we are trying to send colleagues to the city of Beni as soon as possible to provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by the recent violence," Baloch said.
Beni is the epicenter of an Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC and forms the basis of Ebola operations of the World Health Organization. These operations were temporarily halted as a result of recent rebel attacks.
The WHO reports 154 confirmed and probable cases of Ebola in the region, including 101 deaths. The agency resumed operations in Beni on Wednesday, despite security concerns.
WHO officials say they can not afford to interrupt their operations and allow the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.
Source link
