At least 40 civilians were killed in armed group attacks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Ituri region over three days last week, according to the UN.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated that it is "sounding the alarm on a significant escalation in violence" in the area.

PHOTO | COURTESY DRC

Armed groups tormented citizens in former Congo's eastern area, where Ituri is located, for decades due to regional battles that erupted in the 1990s and 2000s.

According to OCHA, In the last week, at least 40 civilians were killed in three days of attacks by armed groups near the city of Bunia, and More than 600 civilians have been killed in Ituri this year, with 345,000 displaced.

It added that they strongly condemn this violence and call on all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law and human rights principles.

PHOTO | COURTESY DRC militia

The UN and its allies assisted 460,000 people in Ituri in the first quarter of 2023, but a spokeswoman stated the UN humanitarian response plan for the DRC is only 30% funded.

Stephane Dujarric, UN secretary-general's spokesperson, said that they urge the international community to stand in solidarity with the people of the DRC and provide the assistance required to address this escalating humanitarian crisis.

This comes barely a week after at least six people were killed in a land dispute in the northern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

PHOTO | COURTESY DRC residents

According to accounts, armed men stormed the town of Babusoko 35 kilometres from Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo province.

According to Heritier Isomela, a local civil society representative, the violence was the latest in a months-long conflict between members of the Mbole and Lengola ethnic groups.

He estimated the death toll at seven, with four critically injured and four still missing. When questioned by AFP on Wednesday, Norbert Lokula, the provincial interior and security minister, stated the attack was carried out by "a militia comprised of Mbole members."