DRC rebels accused of restricting refugee flow

Rebels in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are restricting the movement of Congolese civilians wishing to flee to western Tanzania, UNHCR said. In a report received by IRIN today, UNHCR said Congolese refugees arriving in Kigoma from the Kalemie, Fizi and Uvira areas reported that due to rebel-imposed restrictions, they had had to hide in the bush and move from village to village to reach the lakeshore from where they could cross to Tanzania. Refugees said lack of money to pay the boat fare also made it difficult for people to cross to Kigoma. Meanwhile, in its latest update on the Great Lakes region, UNHCR also reported on Friday that recent arrivals in Kigoma said rebels using patrol boats had, at least twice, forced vessels carrying would-be refugees back to the DRC. As of 8 February, 33,986 Congolese had crossed to Kigoma since August 1998, it added.