简体中文
A UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been put on stand-by to protect civilians in the eastern province of North Kivu amid renewed conflicts in the region, a spokesperson said here Thursday.
The UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) reported that fighting resumed Wednesday between the national army and the M23 armed group in the Kibati area, 15 km north of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, UN deputy spokesperson Eduardo del Buey said at a daily briefing.
According to MONUSCO, "populated areas and UN positions were directly targeted by mortars and hit by indiscriminate fire," said del Buey.
Following the escalating tensions, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the mission, Martin Kobler, ordered UN peacekeepers to take necessary actions to protect civilians and prevent an advance by the M23 rebels, the deputy spokesperson said.
MONUSCO on Wednesday stepped up its patrols, standing ready to send in helicopters to protect civilians and put in place a contingency plan in the area.
The past year witnessed repeatedly clashes between the M23, along with other armed groups, and government forces in eastern DRC. The group briefly occupied Goma in November 2012.
The recent fighting, which involved Ugandan-based rebels, has displaced more than 100,000 people, exacerbating an ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region which includes 2.6 million internally displaced people and 6.4 million in need of food and emergency aid, according to UN figures.
