The flow of Congolese refugees into western Tanzania has increased, with new arrivals reporting an upsurge of fighting in eastern DRC. A UNHCR report said close to 3,500 Congolese refugees had arrived in Kigoma, mainly from the Fizi and Uvira areas of South Kivu, between 2-8 March. The refugees reported that Mayi-Mayi fighters had stepped up attacks on rebel-held positions around Fizi. Those arriving from the Kalemie area of Katanga province, meanwhile, reported that war-planes had been bombing rebel bases in that area, the report said. There were 75 unaccompanied children among the new arrivals in Kigoma, it added. A total of 41,355 Congolese refugees have crossed into western Tanzania since the start of the conflict in August.
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
Share this article
