The rebels, who captured the region’s largest city of Goma, issued a 72-hour ultimatum for displaced people to return to their villages.
Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have forcibly shut down displacement camps in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, pushing more than 110,000 people to flee in recent days, the United Nations and local sources reported on Tuesday.
M23, the most powerful of more than 100 armed factions operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s mineral-rich east, seized Goma, the region’s largest city, in late January amid intensified clashes with government forces.
The offensive has left at least 2,000 people dead in and around the city, according to Congolese authorities.
The rebels issued a 72-hour deadline for displaced people to vacate settlement camps and return to their villages, the UN’s humanitarian aid coordination agency, OCHA, said in its latest briefing.
Although M23 later stated that relocations should be voluntary, OCHA warned that more than 110,000 displaced people are now heading to remote villages with even less access to humanitarian assistance.
“I am surprised because we are asked to leave, yet I have nothing to give to the children,” said Sibomana Safari, departing from Bulengo displacement camp.
“We all (are) leaving without any help (and) I don’t know if we’re going to make it,” he added.
At least 500,000 people have been displaced since M23 escalated its offensive, according to the Forum of International Non-Governmental Organisations. Before the renewed violence on 26 February, Goma was already hosting nearly one million displaced people.
“The situation is extremely worrying,” said Oonagh Curry, emergency coordinator for Doctors Without Borders.
“The current situation is very fluid. It is extremely important to keep in mind that a sudden movement of a population can worsen the humanitarian crisis that was already underway.”
Some of the displaced have no homes to return to.
“It is better to leave us here. Although we lack food, we have shelter here,” said Kwimana Sifa, who lost his home to a bomb. “What we want is just peace and nothing else.”
Despite the rebels announcing a unilateral ceasefire last week, reports of conflict between M23 and government forces persist, particularly as the group advances towards Bukavu, the provincial capital of South Kivu.
On Tuesday, the rebels warned of potential action in response to reported killings in Bukavu, located approximately 50 kilometres from their current position.
“The situation in Bukavu is deteriorating dangerously. Our compatriots are continually being killed,” M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka posted on X.
“If these crimes persist, we will take our responsibilities to eradicate the threat at its source and protect our people.”
