UN: Over 230K Displaced in Eastern DRC Since Jan. 1
The Facts
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that violence between the army and non-state armed groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has displaced more than 237K people since the start of this year.
According to a UNHCR spokeswoman, escalating clashes in Masisi and Lubero, North Kivu, and Fizi, South Kivu, in the first week of the year forced some 150K and 84K people out of their homes, respectively.
These developments have reportedly intensified the "alarming yet under-reported" humanitarian crisis in the resource-rich eastern provinces of North and South Kivu, which host 4.6M internally displaced people.
The Spin
Narrative A
Rwanda and its M23 proxy have created one of the world's largest internal displacement and humanitarian crises to destabilize resource-rich eastern DRC. Kinshasa will never enter negotiations if attacks threaten its territorial integrity and population. It's time for the international community to step in and support the DRC.
Narrative B
Despite recent developments in North Kivu, peace in the DRC remains within reach. It's up to Kinshasa to finally take responsibility for the conflict and start acting in good faith in negotiations instead of undermining diplomatic efforts. East Africa needs peace and stability; all other parties are ready to sign an agreement.