DR of Congo: Urgent International Response needed to stop violence in Bunia by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan 5:20pm 12th May, 2003   As fighting continues in Bunia, DR of Congo, UN fears humanitarian catastrophe    14 May.2003 – As heavy fighting continues to rage in the town of Bunia in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a top United Nations relief official today voiced fear of a looming humanitarian disaster in the area and warned of ethnic tensions that conjured up "shades of Rwanda in 1994."    The situation on the ground in Bunia continues to be "extremely difficult and volatile," with intense fighting going on between ethnic Hema and Lendu militias in the town itself, as well as around the airport, according to a UN spokesman. The local headquarters of the UN Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC) is wedged in the area between the two groups.    Carolyn McAskie, the UN Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, told a press briefing at UN Headquarters in New York that the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation and the ethnic tensions in Bunia conjured up "shades of Rwanda in 1994," where men, women and children rose up and attacked their neighbours.    Whole villages in and around Bunia were slaughtering each other - a deeply disturbing aspect of the hostilities that Ms. McAskie feared was "Rwanda-like," although "nothing could match the scale of Rwanda." Still, there had been hundreds of casualties "that we know of" in the last few weeks or so, she added, stressing that the humanitarian situation was "extremely dangerous, even desperate; the focus was on very basic life-saving interventions."    The dire security situation - where a "rather nasty cocktail" of rebel groups and dissatisfaction with local authorities was playing on ethnic hatreds - meant that relief agencies were "down to the minimum in terms of providing the most basic human needs" such as plastic sheeting for shelter and high-protein biscuits.    Ms. McAskie noted there were just eight humanitarian personnel on the ground right now - including a surgeon, nutrition specialist, and water and sanitation expert -doing what they could. Despite the evacuations, she and others, including the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), were trying to keep a core group in place. Other teams and supplies were on standby, but needed a more secure environment in which to operate. Supplies were being moved up from Goma, but incoming flights tended to be sporadic. The first priority was to find a way to stop the fighting.    Asked how large a force would be needed to suppress the fighting, Ms. McAskie said Ugandan troops had been "keeping a lid on it". They had anywhere from 7,000 to 9,000 troops. "We have 800 personnel now, and estimates of what was needed were some three times that," she said.    Joining Ms. McAskie at the briefing was Margaret Carey of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations. She said that the new troops would have to be able to use force. The Mission was a peacekeeping operation and, therefore, lightly armed. It was basically comprised of guard units. What was needed now was the rapid deployment of well-equipped, well-trained troops, under a mandate that permitted the use of force. In terms of the total numbers needed, she thought the key was enforcement power and capacity.    Meanwhile, UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said a shell landed in the UN Mission's compound, killing one person and wounding 13 others. "I can now confirm the reports on the wires yesterday that one woman was killed yesterday while inside the UN Mission's Bunia headquarters" he said, adding that a civilian was in fact killed by a stray bullet while she was in the compound, and one mortar shell also landed in the compound.    MONUC has also reported that two UN military observers have been missing since 11:00 a.m. local time Tuesday from Mongbwalu, five kilometres north of Bunia. "All attempts are being made to locate them," Mr. Eckhard said.    There has also been an increase in the number of internally displaced persons seeking shelter at the Mission's Bunia headquarters, and a makeshift medical clinic has been organized there to deal with the situation.    UN rights chief 'gravely concerned' at reports of killings, ethnic violence in DR of Congo    14 May – Gravely concerned by reports of indiscriminate killings and ethnic violence in the war-riven town of Bunia, the top United Nations human rights official today called on countries to heed Secretary-General Kofi Annan's request for an international response to help bring peace to the troubled northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).    The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sergio Vieira de Mello, expressed his serious concern at the latest reports of indiscriminate killings in Bunia - the site of almost daily clashes between rival militia for nearly two weeks now - particularly that civilians are again being killed because of their ethnicity.    In anticipation of a clear Security Council mandate, the High Commissioner urged all States with the necessary military capacity to heed the Secretary-General's request this past weekend for troops and materiel to help calm tensions in the region. Mr. Vieira de Mello welcomed France's quick response to the emergency and that country's indication that it was willing, in principle, to support the 700 Uruguayan troops already on the ground, provided a decision by the Council and similar commitments by other States.    Mr. Vieira de Mello added that a stronger human-rights presence may also be necessary to monitor the situation closely, especially with respect to the conditions of the most vulnerable groups, namely displaced women, children and the elderly.    He noted that the UN Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC) and his Office (OHCHR) have just completed a joint report on the massacres that took place only last month northeast of Bunia, in the Drodro area of the Ituri region, which will be submitted to the Council shortly. He pledged his complete support to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in investigating these events and warned the authors of crimes in the region that there will be no impunity.    "The Ituri Peace Commission is already working in the region to find a peaceful solution to the conflict within the context of the Luanda agreement between the Government of the DRC and Uganda," Mr. Vieira de Mello stressed as he called on all parties to immediately cease using violence and to cooperate with the UN in building peace in Ituri.    10 May – Warning that rising violence in the Congolese town of Bunia could lead to massive civilian deaths, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today urged action by the Security Council and Uganda to calm the situation.    "I am deeply alarmed by the deterioration of the security situation in Bunia," Mr. Annan said in a statement released in New York.    Thousands of civilians have fled their homes while militia groups are fighting for control of the town and engaged in extensive looting. The Bunia headquarters of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo(MONUC) has been attacked by militias, despite the fact that it is sheltering thousands of innocent civilians. Militias have also fired into crowds of displaced persons seeking shelter near Bunia airport.    Addressing the Security Council on Friday, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations warned that although nearly 700 UN troops had been deployed to Bunia, without decisive action, the situation might nevertheless spin out of control, leading possibly to the massive killing of civilians. Recalling this, Mr. Annan said, "I am therefore asking the Security Council to consider effective measures to prevent the situation from deteriorating with further loss of civilian lives."    The Secretary-General also noted that he has called on the Government of Uganda to use its influence over militia forces in Ituri to maintain calm. "As Ugandan troops continue to withdraw from the Ituri region, they must do so in a phased and orderly manner, with due respect for the protection of civilians," he stressed.    Mr. Annan also commended the courage shown by MONUC personnel in Bunia, as well as by members of the UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) located there, who are trying to keep an elusive peace, despite overwhelming odds.    Above all, he voiced concern over the plight of non-combatants. "My heart goes out to the innocent civilians who once again find themselves at the mercy of unruly militia," he said. "The international community must make every effort to quickly address this dire situation." Visit the related web page
	Next (more recent) news item
	Next (older) news item