“Any such an attack on the city of Goma might bring catastrophic consequences for hundreds of thousands of civilians, exposing them to human rights violations and abuses,” Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN Human Rights Office, said.
The increase in hostilities has caused some 400,000 people to be displaced in North and South Kivu this year alone.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported attacks and bombings on camps for uprooted people, where two children were killed on January 20 and, a day later, five makeshift shelters were destroyed.
Sexual violence is also noted as another “very terrible component” of the conflict.
“Armed groups kidnap, hold captive and subject women and girls to sexual slavery, and many of them have been killed after being raped,” Shamdasani added.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that escalating tensions over the possible advance of the M23 rebel group towards the city of Goma “increase the threat of a regional war.”
He called on the M23 to cease its offensive immediately, withdraw from all occupied areas and respect the ceasefire agreement of July 31, 2024.
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