Mass Displacement and Human Rights Violations in DR Congo Amid Conflict
Widespread Sexual Violence and Human Rights Abuses
Patrick Eba, Deputy Director of UNHCR’s Division of International Protection, has reported alarming levels of sexual violence, human rights abuses, looting, and destruction of civilian properties near the frontlines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Speaking in Geneva, Mr. Eba highlighted the instability in North and South Kivu provinces, where “hundreds of thousands of people” are being forced to flee their homes.
Since January, approximately 80,000 people have fled clashes between the Congolese Government and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, seeking refuge in neighboring countries. Burundi alone has received around 61,000 new arrivals.
Sexual Violence at Crisis Levels
Between mid and late February, humanitarian organizations recorded an alarming 895 cases of rape in conflict-affected areas—an average of over 60 cases per day.
Civilians also face additional dangers, including explosive remnants of war, which pose serious risks to children and farmers. Further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis, armed groups raided at least two hospitals in Goma, the capital of North Kivu, abducting multiple patients.
Access to displaced individuals has been severely restricted, delaying aid deliveries. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) was forced to pause operations in conflict-affected zones but has since resumed emergency food assistance in some areas, aiming to reach over 210,000 people.
Mass Evictions by M23 Rebels
Significant displacement continues inside North and South Kivu, with reports that M23 rebels have ordered internally displaced people (IDPs) to vacate camps near Goma.
“Currently, only about 17,000 people remain in IDP sites, schools, and churches around Goma, while an estimated 414,000 have been displaced over the past month,” said Mr. Eba. He added that many displaced individuals had been encouraged by de facto authorities to return to their villages, despite ongoing insecurity.
Given the worsening situation, he warned that more people may be forced to cross international borders in search of safety. UNHCR maintains that Congolese fleeing conflict may require refugee protection under international and regional legal frameworks.
US Humanitarian Funding Exemption
When asked about the impact of the recent U.S. humanitarian aid suspension, UNHCR spokesperson Eujin Byun confirmed that the agency had received an exemption, lifting the 90-day freeze for emergency response in a few crisis-affected countries, including the DRC.
She noted that aid to the DRC, which has been plagued by conflict for decades, has historically been underfunded. However, she expressed optimism that UNHCR would be able to continue its humanitarian efforts.
Currently, over one million Congolese refugees are sheltering in neighboring African countries, with Uganda hosting more than half of them. Burundi has seen the highest number of new arrivals since the M23 offensive escalated in January. Inside the DRC, an estimated 6.7 million people remain internally displaced.
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