蜜芽传媒

The United Nations refugee agency warns that civilians in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are once again bearing the brunt of localized violence, amid a sharp uptick in fighting between Government forces and the M23 armed group.

Fresh fighting since last week in the region has displaced an estimated 135,000 people from the town of Sake 鈥� on the northern banks of Lake Kivu 鈥� who are moving towards the provincial capital, Goma, about 25 kilometres away, according to UNHCR.

The agency further said that it received reports of bombs falling on civilian areas in Sake and Goma, where an estimated 65,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are sheltering, prompting 鈥渟ignificant concerns鈥� for their safety.

Lawrence Kanyuka is the political spokesperson of the March 23 Movement (M23) armed group. He told Newsday there are hundreds of armed groups in the country: 鈥淭he M23 wasn鈥檛 there鈥�this crime was committed by other people.鈥�

(Picture: Shows people carrying their belongings as they flee the Masisi territory following clashes between M23 rebels and government forces, at a road near Sake on February 7, 2024. Credit: Aubin Mukoni / AFP via Getty Images.)

Show less