Tens of thousands of people have fled the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC, as insecurity and horrific sexual violence grip the eastern region, the United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR, has warned.
Patrick Eba of UNHCR’s Division of International Protection stated on Tuesday that at least 80,000 people had escaped the worsening violence, with North and South Kivu provinces remaining highly unstable.
“Near the front lines, sexual violence and human rights abuses remain rampant, as is the looting and destruction of civilian homes and businesses,” Eba said during a briefing in Geneva. He added that hundreds of thousands remain on the move, seeking safety from clashes between Congolese government forces and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.
Since January, around 61,000 people have fled to Burundi, while Uganda continues to host the largest number of Congolese refugees. The crisis has been compounded by alarming levels of sexual violence, with 895 cases of rape reported in just the last two weeks of February—an average of more than 60 per day.
The conflict has also disrupted humanitarian aid. Armed men raided at least two hospitals in North Kivu’s capital, Goma, abducting dozens of patients, while ongoing violence has hindered relief efforts.
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The UN World Food Programme, WFP, temporarily paused operations in conflict-affected areas but resumed emergency food assistance on Tuesday, aiming to reach over 210,000 people.
Inside the DRC, mass displacement continues. M23 forces have reportedly instructed internally displaced persons to leave camps around Goma, forcing an estimated 414,000 people to move in the past four weeks. Only around 17,000 remain in IDP sites, schools, and churches.
With no sign of the violence easing, UNHCR has warned that more people may be forced to cross borders for safety. The agency stressed the need for refugee protection under international and regional legal frameworks and emphasized the importance of informed decision-making for those considering returning to conflict-affected areas.
Although humanitarian funding has been strained, a waiver has been granted to lift the United States’ 90-day suspension on aid for emergencies, including the DRC crisis. However, UNHCR spokesperson Eujin Byun noted that assistance for the region has “always been underfunded” despite the ongoing humanitarian emergency.
More than one million Congolese refugees are scattered across Africa, with Uganda hosting over half that number. The latest wave of displacement follows a decades-long conflict in the mineral-rich region, leaving millions without homes or security.
NAN
