Escalating armed conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has displaced more than 70,000 people and strained local communities and humanitarian access, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Friday.
The OCHA said the intensifying hostilities in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces have triggered large-scale displacement, heaping mounting pressure on local livelihoods and public services.
According to OCHA, the surge in violence since mid-August has driven over 70,000 people to flee their homes and take refuge in the Walikale territory of North Kivu.
The mass influx of displaced populations has severely overstretched local basic public services, placing a heavy burden on host communities across the region.
Compounding the crisis, the worsening security situation has not only restricted civilian mobility in affected zones, but also severely hampered the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance.
OCHA renewed its call on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and ensure safe, unimpeded humanitarian access so that life-saving supplies can reach affected populations without delay.
Escalating conflict in eastern DRC displaces over 70,000 civilians: UN
