04 Jul 2018 | 03:28 PM UTC
DRC: At least 1000 IDPs due to violence around Uvira
As of early July, at least 1000 people have been internally displaced in the past two months due to continued violence in the Uvira area of South Kivu province
Event
Civil society organizations are, as of early July, warning of a rise in violence ongoing since late April in the vicinity of the town of Uvira (South Kivu province; east). The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) fleeing the violence has reached at least 1000 over the past two months. The spike in violence has also left 450 people dead. No concrete security measures have yet been put in place in the area.
Contxt
Violent clashes between the Bafulero, Babembe, and Banyamulenge communities have been taking place in South Kivu since April 30, resulting in deaths, injuries, slain cattle, and villages set on fire. The security situation in neighboring North Kivu also resulted in 1343 deaths during the same period. In the east of the country more generally, at least 2459 people were killed in clashes between May 2016 and April 2018 - twice as many compared to the 2014-2016 period.
Numerous armed groups are active across the DRC, including ethnic-based self-defense militia groups. Violent clashes between these groups and government forces, as well as between rival groups, are common.
Advice
A number of Western governments advise their citizens against travel to the east and northeast of the country due to poor security conditions, including the presence of armed groups and a high risk of kidnapping. Professional security advice should be sought prior to travel.
