Many residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including officials who had folded weapons, found shelter at the UN facilities against the background of the continuing clashes between rebel groups and security forces in the country.
About this at a meeting of the UN Security Council in the DR Congo in the video conferencing mode was told by Vivian Van de Perre, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Protection and Operations in the UN Mission to Stabilization in the DR Congo (Monusco).
According to her, the continuing clashes with the rebel group “Movement of March 23” (M23) in the east of the African country led to a massive movement of people, people are forced to hide in crowded centers in homom.
In Monusco, they are also trying to satisfy requests for protection from human rights activists and non -governmental organizations, she said.
Our objects are also not safe
de Perre attracted attention to the fact that Monusco objects are not designed for such a stream of people and are also not a safe place.
Monusco stores abandoned and left weapons in accordance with international standards, specific steps are taken to prevent this weapons in the hands of the conflicting parties, she said.
noting that the infrastructure of water supply, power supply and medical services in Homa can hardly cope with the current situation, the humanitarian situation also worsens, explained de Perre.
The consequences of M23 attacks continue to affect civilians, due to the intensity of clashes and proximity to the UN front line, she suspended some of their operations to provide humanitarian aid and adapted others depending on the situation, the representative of the organization said.
Having emphasized the need to take measures to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population and provide vital assistance, de Perre noted that military operations will not become a resolution of the conflict.
de Perre called on all parties to return to the political dialogue and emphasized that the risk of war should be eliminated by returning to the Luandan process.
Attacks on the peacekeepers of the UN may be war crimes
The mission representative emphasized that all parties are required to comply with international humanitarian law. “Attacks on the peacekeepers of the UN can be a war crime,” she said.
de Perre noted that the suffering in homom and the environs of “unimaginable”, and called for the immediate cessation of violence.
Despite all the difficulties, Monusco continues to play a key role in the settlement of the crisis and is a lighthouse of hope for those who seek protection, she said.
de Perre added that Monusco has difficulties with ensuring the security of their staff and objects, and urged the parties to protect civilians, open humanitarian corridors and make efforts to achieve a sustainable peaceful solution.