The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has reported that at least 80,000 people have fled the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) due to escalating violence, including widespread sexual assault. UNHCR official Patrick Eba highlighted the dire situation in North and South Kivu provinces, where armed clashes between Congolese forces and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have forced civilians to seek refuge in neighboring countries.
Since January, approximately 61,000 refugees have crossed into Burundi, with many others fleeing to Uganda and Rwanda. The violence has led to horrific human rights abuses, including over 895 reported cases of rape in just the last two weeks of February—an average of more than 60 per day.
Eba emphasized that civilians are also at risk from explosive remnants of war, further exacerbating the suffering of vulnerable groups like children and farmers. With the instability showing no signs of abating, the humanitarian crisis in the region continues to worsen, and the exodus of refugees remains ongoing.
