According to the UN Mission in the country (MONUSCO), the attack was carried out by members of the so-called Congolese Development Cooperative (CODECO) – a loose association of various Lendu militia groups.
task leader, Bintou Keitastrongly condemned the attack, which also left 36 people injured.
MONUSCO sent a patrol to the scene upon receiving word of the attack. They also notify the national security force as well as their community warning network.
Confrontation
Guatemalan and Bangladeshi reserve forces from the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo patrol the Ituri province in the east of the country. (file), by MONUSCO
Briefing of journalists in New York, Deputy Secretary General Spokesman say UN Peacekeepers exchanged fire with the attackers shortly after arriving at the scene.
Blue Helmets also conducted joint operations with the Congolese army early in the morning, driving the attackers out of the area and securing the site to prevent immediate attacks.
In the meantime, humanitarian partners have begun delivering medical supplies.
According to the Spokesperson, humanitarian officials are reporting that Road access is limited due to unsafety and the delivery of humanitarian assistance is difficult.
The area is home to 600,000 displaced people.
Human rights crisis
In one report issued last week, the United Nations Office for Human Rights (UNJHRO) said that 6,989 cases of human rights violations were recorded last year in the country, a decrease of nearly 12% compared to 2020.
About 60% of violations are committed by armed groups in provinces affected by armed conflictwhere at least 2,024 civilians, including 439 women, were victims of summary executions.
Besides CODECO, other important armed groups, often acting with complete retribution, include the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), Mai Mai and others.
State agents, including the national army, police and other security agencies, account for 35% of violations, including extrajudicial killings of at least 40 civilians.
According to reports, because of this violence, late last year, the government decided to put the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu under a state of “siege”, a measure that gives special powers to the army and police.
With 19.6 million people are in dire need of helpThe country continues to witness one of the most complex and protracted humanitarian crises in the world.
MONUSCO / Abel Kavanagh
A helicopter takes off from the MONUSCO base in Beni, North Kivu, on a reconnaissance mission. (file photo)
