June 23, 2023, Geneva & The Hague – Following new waves of deadly attacks against civilians by armed actors and growing fears of a deepening humanitarian crisis, Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) calls for immediate and concerted international and national efforts to strengthen the protection of civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Attacks against civilians, primarily displaced persons in temporary sites, have surged in recent months, and have resulted in loss of life, repeated displacements, and an aggravated humanitarian crisis,” said Wendy MacClinchy, Interim Senior Director of Advocacy at CIVIC. “We call for a robust response and preventive actions by peacekeepers, including enhancing early warning mechanisms around displacement sites to allow civilians to seek refuge in the event of an upcoming attack. We also call on the Congolese Government to strengthen its resolve in its primary responsibility to protect these vulnerable civilians.”
The levels of brutality and humanitarian need are “unparalleled”, according to the United Nations. In the most recent incident on June 11th, more than 45 people were killed in an attack on a displacement site in Ituri. Half of the victims were children. As armed attacks against civilians multiply, nearly 1 million people have been forced to flee since the start of 2023, many of them individuals and families who have been displaced several times.
The surge in attacks against civilians is taking place against the backdrop of the drawdown of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO). CIVIC is highly concerned that the withdrawal of UN Peacekeepers might not be substituted by new measures to protect civilians immediately.
“As the country is at a crossroads with the coming transition and withdrawal of MONUSCO, the international humanitarian response must be proportionate to the horror suffered by civilians,” said MacClinchy. “The protection of civilians must be placed at the center of all efforts – national, regional, and international – that are deployed in eastern DRC.”
CIVIC continues to support an integrated approach to the MONUSCO transition that prioritizes the protection of civilians through the coherent use of the UN’s political, humanitarian, and development mandates and capacities. Supporting and working with communities and civil society organizations to shape the peacekeeping transition and advance local protection solutions is critical to avoid the worst consequences for civilians in the current situation.
Facts & Figures:
- 6.3 million people are displaced inside the country, the highest number in any African country.
- Aid organizations require US$2.25 billion to assist 10 million people in eastern DRC this year. As of 19 June, the humanitarian response plan is only 28 percent funded.
- In 2022, DR Congo was the second world’s most neglected displacement crises, according to NRC’s annual ranking.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
- Hajer Naili, Director of Communications, [email protected], +31.6.21.69.68.86 / +1 917 889 5982 (WhatsApp)
Spokespersons available for interviews in English and French
