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The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has called for increased attention towards the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
He said this during his visit to a displaced people’s camp in Goma on Thursday.
The region had been engulfed by series of crisis which had prompted thousands of Congolese to flee their homes amidst clashes between the Congolese army and M23 rebels.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has labeled it one of the most severe displacement crises globally.
Faida Bauma, displaced from Masis along with her four children, expressed despair over the deplorable living conditions in the camp and the persistent violence endured by its residents.
She said, “They fired bullets that crossed here. Look at the conditions in which we live, when it rains here we suffer, look at where we sleep, when it rains we fold our mattresses. We are going to die here, people are even raped. So there are several cases of violations happening here caused by the military.”
Turk’s visit coincides with a worsening security situation in eastern DR Congo, marked by ongoing confrontations between the Congolese army and M23 rebels in the vicinity of Goma.
Addressing displaced individuals during his visit, Turk emphasized the urgency of the situation, urging the international community to refocus attention on the unfolding tragedy in the region.
