By Meryl A. White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Western and Central Africa

NORTH KIVU, Democratic Republic of Congo – According to Human Rights Watch, the United Nations has been slow to react to murder, rape, and the indoctrination of child soldiers in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Presently, the situation in DRC is grim, as the crisis is turning into a war between Hutu and Tutsi tribes.

In the last five days of fighting, more than 100 rebels were killed by the Congolese army.  This prompted General Nkunda to call for a cease fire to avoid civilian casualties. Presently, more than 150 of Nkunda’s fighters have “fled the rebel ranks.”

More than 370,000 people who have been displaced by the fighting in the eastern region. Around 8,000 refugees have been forced into migration across the border into Uganda to seek safety. Refugees are currently entering Uganda through the Bunagana and Busanza border crossings.

UNHCR has reported that women and children are taking shelter on shop verandas in Bunagana, while other refugees are remaining close to the border crossings in hopes of returning home.

Critics of the United Nations believe that peacekeepers in the region have been “powerless to intervene in the battles between government forces and three separate militias.” Nevertheless, the 18,000-strong mission in Congo is the largest U.N. peacekeeping operation.

For more information, please see:

AllAfrica.com – Congo-Kinshasa: 8,000 Flee to Uganda – 22 October 2007

AllAfrica.com – Congo-Kinshasa: Civilians in Peril – 23 October 2007

YahooNews – Congo Fighting Displaces More Civilians – 23 October 2007

Human Rights Watch – DR Congo: Civilians in Peril – 23 October 2007