The United Nations has reported that over 200 people have been killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo since January. It added that an estimated 40,000 people have also been displaced.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) attributed the attacks to armed groups affiliated to ISIL (ISIS). The agency specifically mentioned an “alarming increase” in attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). The ADF is an historically Ugandan group present in eastern DRC since 1995.

In a summary to reporters, UNHCR spokesman, Babar Baloch revealed some details of the atrocious acts the ADF has committed.

“Since the start of the year, attacks blamed on the ADF have killed nearly 200 people, injured dozens of others.

“It has also displaced an estimated 40,000 people in DRC’s Beni Territory in North Kivu province as well as nearby villages in Ituri province. In less than three months, the ADF has allegedly raided 25 villages, set fire to dozens of houses and kidnapped over 70 people.”

According to security analysts, the ADF is the bloodiest of the 122 militias that plague the eastern DRC. It killed an estimated 465 people last year.

The Kivu Security Tracker (KST), an NGO that monitors violence in the DRC has also revealed the group has killed more than 1,200 civilians in the Beni area alone since 2017.

The massacres have become more frequent since the army launched an offensive in October 2019. Experts say the offensive forced the ADF to break up into smaller, highly mobile units.

Baloch also intimated that the latest surge in attacks appear to be due to reprisals by armed groups. He suggested the attacks came in their search for food and medicine. As well as accusations against communities of sharing information on ADF positions.

Funding shortage congo

The UNHCR also expressed concern for those displaced because of the ADF’s activities. The agency signaled that the displaced are at an increased risk due to lack of food and medicine. It added that the situation is particularly dire in the context of the coronavirus and Ebola outbreaks in the region.

“The majority are women and children, as men stay behind to protect properties, exposing themselves to the risk of further attacks,” Baloch said.

According to UNHCR figures, even before the recent mass displacement, some 100,000 internally displaced people were already in need of shelter and protection in Beni.

Last year, UNHCR said it was able to build more than 43,000 family shelters in eastern DRC. However, this year, it only has funding to build just a tenth of that.

“Only 4,400 families can be assisted out of hundreds of thousands in need,” Baloch said. He added that a vital cash programme for displaced women at risk has been cut due to lacking funds.

Baloch appealed that the UN refugee agency urgently needs $2m (1.7 million euros) to beef up its response in Beni and Irumu Territory in Ituri,

As of now, the $33m the agency has requested to provide assistance throughout eastern DRCis only 5.5 percent funded. congo