North Kivu – Democratic Republic of the Congo- New clashes erupted on October 20 in Rutshuru Territory in between Congolese army and combatants from the armed group Mouvement du 23 mars (M23), well over a month after the previous confrontations.
Tensions mounted in the Rangira neighborhood and stretched to other villages in the Jomba groupement in the Rwanguba Health Zone.
At least 3 civilians were wounded and taken to a medical facility, as per local authorities as well as humanitarian sources.
Unspecified numbers of people are said to have relocated to Rangira center, Ntamugenga, Kalengera, Rubare, Kiwanja, and Matebe, as well as neighboring communities in Rutshuru Territory.
Several hundred people from Bunagana, Kabindi, as well as Tchengerero are said to have traversed into Uganda. As of early September, the Ugandan government decided to close all refugee transit sites as well as directed Congolese refugees to relocate to the Nakivale refugee camp further inland.
OCHA and humanitarian partner organisations are watching the situation to better understand the scope of these movements as well as the needs of those who have recently been displaced. A mass surge of displaced people is expected in the coming days, especially in Rutshuru center and along the Rutshuru-Goma road.
Conflicts in between Congolese army and the M23 armed militia have relocated at least 186,000 people since March, bringing the overall number of people displaced in Rutshuru region to even more than 396,000. Humanitarian partners continue to provide aid in the areas of food, health, water, as well as hygiene, among others. Because of the new demands that these confrontations may create, additional aid will be required.
