At least 57 civilians killed by ADF rebels in a week in eastern DR Congo: UN

Kinshasa, June 11 (FN Representative) At least 57 civilians were killed in a week by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), said the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Monday. According to a press release issued by OCHA, the victims were killed in attacks carried out by ADF rebels, which took place in the Beni region in North Kivu province from June 3 to 8. The ADF, an affiliate of the Islamic State in Central Africa, has been notorious for its violent activities in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, which have been under a state of siege since May 2021, with military and police authorities replacing the civilian administration. Through its propaganda channels, the Islamic State Central Africa Province claimed responsibility for the deaths of more than 60 “Christians.” According to OCHA, more than 900,000 newly internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been reported between January and April 2024, bringing the total number of IDPs to around 7.3 million in the country, including more than 5.6 million in the three eastern provinces, namely North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri.

“I call on all armed groups and their supporters to respect their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, by protecting civilians, ensuring unhindered humanitarian access, and allowing humanitarian operations to continue unfolding, so that organizations can provide vital assistance to needy populations,” UN Resident Coordinator Bruno Lemarquis said in the press release. According to OCHA, the 2024 humanitarian response plan for the DRC is only 23 percent funded, with only 590 million dollars received. Despite these constraints, the humanitarian community assisted more than 3.5 million people in the DRC between January and April 2024. “It is time for all actors involved, as well as those who influence the parties to the conflict, to work together for an immediate de-escalation of violence and a return to political dialogue to find a lasting solution to the conflict. It is also important to increase efforts to promote durable solutions for displaced people in areas where the conditions are met,” Lemarquis said.