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The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) has launched "a comprehensive investigation" into reported instances of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of civilians, including minors, by its personnel in the northeastern town of Bunia, Ituri District, UN News reported on Friday.
UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said in New York that MONUC was determined to enforce Secretary-General Kofi Annan's policy of zero tolerance of any sexual misconduct. MONUC "is committed to completing a full and thorough investigation as a matter of urgency, and to applying all available sanctions against any of its personnel found responsible," Eckhard said.
Meanwhile, MONUC troops killed 10 and wounded several militiamen of the Front nationaliste integrationniste (FNI) on Friday, following an ambush on one of its patrols of the Ituri Brigade deployed to keep peace in the district.
MONUC reported that militiamen attacked a contingent of Bangladeshi troops close to the village of Kombokabo, 25 km southwest of Bunia, along the Bunia-Marabo axis.
UN Nepalese troops, backed by a Mi-25 attack helicopter, were sent to support the Bangladeshis. Two UN soldiers were wounded in the attack. MONUC also said its troops destroyed two militia camps at Kombokabo and Ngaju.
MONUC is operationg under Chapter Seven of the UN Charter that authorises the used of force, if necessary, to protect civilians. FNI militia have been recently harassing civilians along the Bunia-Marabo road.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
