Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - More than 107,000 Congolese refugees in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have fled to the Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville) since the beginning of November. Another 17,000 have crossed the border into Central African Republic, where it is estimated that 60% of refugees are children, many of whom fled from orphanages. This is what is stated in a press release sent to Fides from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The Congolese refugees in both countries fled from Equateur province in north-west DRC after Enyele militiamen launched deadly assaults in late October on ethnic Munzayas over fishing and farming rights in the Dongo area. The tensions have since spread to other parts of the province. The DRC army has launched an offensive against the Enyele militia.
“There is an acute need for formal refugee sites to be established in both Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo (ROC), as the majority of the DRC refugees occupy public buildings and spaces," a spokesperson for the UN refugee agency said. "This massive influx is severely stretching the meager resources of this impoverished region, which could lead to tensions with the local community."
In the Central African Republic's Mougoumba region the refugees outnumber the locals by 200 to one, while the Likouala region of northern ROC has seen its population double since the arrival of 107,000 refugees. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 13/1/2010)
