Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Thousands Forced to Flee Violent Interethnic Attacks in Eastern DRC

Lisa Schlein

   GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - In the last two months, the U.N. Refugee Agency
   reports more than 200,000 people have been forced to flee surging
   violence between the Lendu and Hema groups in eastern Democratic
   Republic of Congo's Ituri Province.

   The U.N. Refugee Agency says 5 million people have been uprooted in the
   Democratic Republic of the Congo, including 1.2 million in Ituri
   province. It reports the number of interethnic attacks and
   counterattacks between Lendu farmers and Hema herders continues to
   multiply, adding to the already intolerable misery of what is Africa's
   largest displacement crisis.

   U.N. monitors have recorded more than 3,000 serious human rights
   violations in Djugu territory, mainly occupied by the Hema, in the last
   60 days. UNHCR spokesman, Charlie Yaxley says nearly 50 attacks are
   taking place on average every day against the local community.

   "Displaced people have reported acts of extreme violence with at least
   274 civilians killed with weapons such as machetes. More than 140 women
   were raped and almost 8,000 houses set on fire. The vast majority of
   those displaced are women and children, many of whom are now living
   under crowded circumstances with host families from the community," he
   said.

   Yaxley told VOA many others are forced to sleep in the open or in
   public buildings under very insecure conditions.

   "That, in turn, is also making the social distancing required to
   prevent the spread of COVID-19 extremely difficult as we see many
   people living inside shelters '¦ and, this again places them vulnerable
   to possible further attacks, vulnerable to the elements and with little
   protection in terms of preventing the spread of COVID-19," he said.

.