UN mission 'deeply concerned' over Congo clashes

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo

The UN mission in Congo has expressed deep concern over ongoing clashes in eastern parts of the country, which have forced 35,000 internally-displaced people to flee their camps and seek safety in neighboring villages.

Talking to reporters in the Congolese capital Kinshasa Wednesday, Mamadou Diallo, coordinator for the UN mission that is also known as MONUSCO, said: "The last few days have been difficult for displaced people who have been forced to leave the sites... and unable to get the humanitarian assistance they need.

"I am deeply concerned about the situation."

The recently-intensified clashes in the region have forced thousands of people to empty five camps and seek refuge in surrounding villages of Mpati area in North Kivu province, according to the UN.

Provincial authorities in the region have threatened to shut down camp sites for displaced people, saying they allegedly host militiamen.

The province of North Kivu in eastern DRC has about 781,000 internally-displaced persons, according to the UN Refugee Agency.

Mpati area has seven camp sites that host more than 45,000 people.

Eastern Congo has been rocked by violence for over two decades between the Congolese army and Rwandan Hutu rebels of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda and also Ugandan rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces.