UN humanitarians alarmed by escalating violence in eastern DRC

21/11/2025 8:02

UN humanitarians said Thursday they are alarmed by escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)'s North Kivu and Ituri provinces.



The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that local humanitarian partners and community leaders reported that more than 45 people have been killed in North Kivu since Friday, following attacks on several villages in the Lubero territory.



In one particularly "horrific incident," a health center attack left at least 17 people dead, including patients, OCHA cited local civil society, adding that "partners also report that two health workers were kidnapped, medicine looted, and the facility set on fire."



The office said the Lubero violence surge has forced more than 30,000 people to leave their homes in less than a week, and families continued to flee on Thursday amid fears of further attacks.



OCHA partners are assessing response needs and delivering assistance where possible, although continuing insecurity is hindering humanitarian access, it said.