DRC refugees flee fighting, food shortages

The UNHCR spokesman said new refugee arrivals from the DRC had also slowed. "So far, some 600 new arrivals were recorded in February, compared to 1,300 in January," Redmond said. The Congolese refugees, who reportedly fled from Baraka, claim they were forced to leave due to acute food shortages during the past few months, he stated. Others who arrived form Uvira and Fizi in South Kivu claimed that heavy fighting was still raging and rebel forces continued to loot villages, Redmond said, adding that much of the local population was reportedly still hiding in South Kivu's forests.