Audio By Carbonatix
The U.N. refugee agency voiced concern at the "rapidly deteriorating" situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday, saying the war had left around 350,000 displaced people with no roof over their heads.
Rwandan-backed M23 rebels seized eastern Congo's largest city of Goma last month and have been inching south in an advance that a local official has said may trigger a broader catastrophe in an area already housing thousands of displaced people.
UNHCR spokesperson Eujin Byun told journalists in Geneva by video link that around 350,000 internally displaced people had no shelter as 70,000 emergency shelters had been destroyed around Goma and Minova. Unexploded munitions had also made it unsafe for them to go home.
About 70% of Goma's camps are destroyed, and others in Minova are damaged, according to UNHCR.
"Hundreds of thousands of people are now living in makeshift accommodation, including churches and hospitals," Byun added.
The agency also reported an increase in crime and said the danger of disease was growing as it and other agencies struggle to provide aid amid the fighting.
More than 80 civilians were killed in a late-night attack by the Codeco militia on a cluster of villages in eastern DRC this week, the UN peacekeeping mission Monusco said on Thursday.
Codeco, one of many militias fighting over land and resources, has frequently attacked the displacement camps, which have mushroomed since M23 began its advance.
Rwanda has been accused by DRC, the UN and Western countries of supporting M23 with its own troops and weapons, a charge Kigali denies.
At least 3,000 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced by the recent fighting.
Latest Stories
-
Gabon’s President praises Ghana’s mining reforms, backs push for greater transparency
5 minutes -
GNFS prevents major power outage after extinguishing electrical fire at Tetegu
12 minutes -
Ga Mantse leads investor delegation to TOR to explore strategic investment opportunities
29 minutes -
Supreme Court ruling on internal party elections will deepen democracy – Paa Kwesi Schandorf
30 minutes -
OSP can prosecute independently, but AG has power to terminate cases – Supreme Court
44 minutes -
Dome-Kwabenya MP condemns road encroachment, illegal development during inspection tour
57 minutes -
Scam kingpin Van Yeboah jailed 85 months in US prison for stealing $10million
57 minutes -
VALCO needs strategic investor to survive, GIADEC confirms
59 minutes -
Glasgow 2026: Ghana eyes sprint medal as Hayford Addai targets podium finish in T47 100m final
1 hour -
NDPC boss outlines implementation strategy for revised National Urban Policy
1 hour -
Fire destroys vehicle at Nungua Buade
1 hour -
Ghana’s power security now depends on getting gas, grids and regional trade to work together
1 hour -
Saudi Arabia joins US in strikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq
1 hour -
Supreme Court dismisses case challenging OSP’s prosecutorial powers
2 hours -
Coca-Cola Ghana boosts inmate rehabilitation with vocational training equipment donation
2 hours