Rebel attacks displace 100,000 in Democratic Republic of Congo

By Godfrey Olukya

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) – Frequent rebel attacks have displaced at least 100,000 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Friday.

The UN radio quoted OCHA as saying that since Sept. 23, around 95% of Komanda and Makayanga's population in the Irumu territory of Ituri province have fled repeated rebel attacks.

“The displaced people are spread over villages of Marabo, Nyakunde, Mungamba, Lolwa, and Biakato. These people live in difficult conditions with no food, no medicine, no water or shelter,” OCHA said.

It said several health facilities set up for these displaced people in Marabo and Nyakunde are not providing free medical care due to a shortage of medicines.

In the past few months, Ituri province has been repeatedly attacked by rebels of Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) following the national army’s attempt to oust them from the area. When the army attacks them at their bases they avenge by attacking and killing unprotected villagers.