An outbreak of fighting in the eastern Congolese province of South Kivu has forced more than 35,000 civilians to flee their homes in the past two weeks.

The latest population movement brings the total number of civilians to have been displaced in South Kivu since January as a result of clashes between government forces and Rwandan rebels, and reprisal attacks on civilians, to about 536,000 people.

"We are gravely concerned that the renewed fighting in South Kivu will have a negative impact on UNHCR-organized voluntary repatriation of Congolese refugees from neighbouring Tanzania, the majority of whom are from the province," a UNHCR spokesman said on Friday.

Initial UNHCR estimates show that at least 35,000 people have been displaced in the Ruzizi River plain, where the Democratic Republic of the Congo borders Rwanda and Burundi. These people reportedly fled iafter the government launched a fresh military campaign on July 12 in the Uvira area of South Kivu. The campaign is aimed at the disarmament of the so-called Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and their local militia allies.

Many of the residents of Lemera and Mulenge, two of the major towns in the region north of Uvira, are reported to have fled and an estimated 19,000 people are said to be hiding in the forests and villages near Lemera.

The majority of the displaced civilians are seeking protection with host families in areas where it is still safe, while others have sheltered in schools, churches and other public buildings. Internally displaced people (IDPs) in the conflict areas in the mountains of the Moyens Plateaux remain almost completely inaccessible.

There are widespread reports from IDPs of atrocities, including accusations of murder, rape and torture on the part of FDLR rebels. Fleeing populations also report arbitrary arrests, kidnappings, extortion and forced taxation by the FDLR and various armed groups backing the Rwandan Hutu rebels.

Due to lack of access and insecurity it is extremely difficult to assess the scope of the latest displacement. So far, UNHCR has tentatively pre-registered some 20,000 individuals in the Luberizi-Kamanyola axis, along the Burundi border, where most of the new IDPs had gathered.

The UNHCR office in the South Kivu lakeside town of Bukavu reports that families continued to be on the run throughout the week. Preliminary evaluations conducted in coordination with other humanitarian partners show that these people need food, water, medical supplies and basic aid items such as blankets, mattresses and cooking utensils.

The UN refugee agency is also monitoring the situation of those most vulnerable, identifying people at risk and with specific needs, including victims of sexual violence and arbitrary detention. UNHCR will also evaluate the need for shelter assistance in order to minimize the pressure on the host families and local community.

The total number of people displaced by violence and fighting in the eastern DRC is over 1.8 million.

1. • Key excerpts from UN report on Rwandan army genocide in DR Congo (August 27, 2010)
2. • UN report says Rwandan army committed genocide in DR Congo (August 26, 2010)
3. • UN Security Council calls for urgent action over mass DR Congo rape (August 26, 2010)
4. • UN Defends Inaction on Mass Rapes in Eastern Congo, Government Missing in Action (August 26, 2010)
5. • FDLR Rebels Continue Campaign of Terror in Eastern Congo (August 23, 2010)
6. • Two Suspects Arrested in Attack on MONUSCO Base (August 20, 2010)
7. • President Kabila Pays Respects to Sange Victims (July 5, 2010)
8. • Two Days of Mourning Declared after 235 Die from Oil Tanker Explosion (July 4, 2010)
9. • Oil tanker blaze 'kills 200' in eastern Congo (July 3, 2010)
10. • Security Council agrees to convert UN mission in DR Congo into stabilization force (May 28, 2010)
11. • 54 FDLR Rebels Relocated from North Kivu to Katanga (May 4, 2010)
12. • South Kivu Governor Resigns (April 20, 2010)
13. • ICRC confirms release of eight staff members in South Kivu (April 16, 2010)
14. • Behind Human Rights Watch Report on LRA, a Plea for MONUC to Remain in the Congo (March 29, 2010)
15. • Ex-rebels take over mineral trade extortion racket (March 11, 2010)
16. • UN: 90 Rwandan Rebels Killed in Eastern DRC (March 10, 2010)
17. • U.S. Senator Durbin Calls on Rwanda to Name Rebels Involved in Genocide (February 16, 2010)
18. • UN agency assisting thousands uprooted by insecurity in eastern DR Congo (January 26, 2010)
19. • Peacekeepers Plan Operation Amani Leo with FARDC in North Kivu (January 19, 2010)
20. • DR Congo, Rwanda, Burundi to hold meeting of chiefs of general staff (January 18, 2010)
21. • MONUC outlines cooperation with FARDC in Operation Amani Leo (January 7, 2010)
22. • DR Congo launches 'Amani Leo' military operation (January 2, 2010)
23. • Alan Doss: Human Rights Watch attack on MONUC 'shortsighted' (December 28, 2009)
24. • Blue helmets protect thousands daily, says top UN envoy (December 28, 2009)
25. • DR Congo military says more FDLR rebels killed in North Kivu province (December 18, 2009)
26. • UN forces, army adopt new directives with civilian protection at core (December 16, 2009)
27. • Human Rights Watch Calls on FDLR Rebels in Eastern Congo to Investigate Themselves (December 15, 2009)
28. • Congo army reports 1,200 FDLR rebels killed since February (December 10, 2009)
29. • Efforts to thwart rebels in eastern DR Congo a mixed bag, says Ban Ki-moon (December 8, 2009)
30. • Final report of the UN Group of Experts on the DRC released (December 7, 2009)

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