Rise in violence undermines relief efforts in Ituri

Armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's northeastern Ituri District are pillaging humanitarian aid, confiscating the vehicles of relief workers and refusing access to vulnerable populations.

"Ituri is experiencing a renewed cycle of violence," a statement issued on Thursday by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

"Humanitarian actors have been strongly advised to avoid the northern axes of Bunia," OCHA said, referring to the main town in Ituri.

It said two international NGOs had suspended their activities following "violent attacks" by militias on the roads to the north and south of Bunia.

OCHA said armed groups were also targeting MONUC, the UN Mission in the DRC, and that shootings between the militia and MONUC were "becoming a common event".

OCHA reported little success in implementing the National Plan of Demobilisation, Disarmament and Reintegration. "Fighters who do want to disarm are being killed or molested if they attempt to go to the transit sites," OCHA said.
[Full OCHA report on: www.reliefweb.int ]