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Thousands flee as fighting flares-up in eastern DR Congo

Democratic Republic Of Congo

About 35,000 people fled from several refugee camps in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo following clashes between the army and rebels.

The UN on Wednesday said five camps for internally displaced persons in North Kivu province have been emptied since March 27, forcing thousands to take refuge in surrounding villages in the Mpati area, around 100 kilometres south-west of the provincial capital Goma,

Since the clashes began, the Congolese army has been battling a coalition of Hutu rebels from the eastern Congo-based FDLR and two local militia in the Mpati area.

“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,” said Mamadou Diallo, the coordinator for the UN mission known as MONUSCO. He added: “I am deeply concerned about the situation.”

The Mpati area is host to about 45,000 people placed in seven different camps.

Reuters

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