20100115
africanews

More than 107,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have fled to the Republic of Congo since early November of last year. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, another 17,000 refugees have crossed into the Central African Republic (CAR).
'In CAR we estimate that at least 60 per cent are children, many of whom fled from orphanages,' the UN refugee agency said in a statement.

It also stressed the urgent need for sites to host DR Congo refugees in the Republic of Congo and CAR.

It noted that the refugees fled from the Equateur province of DR Congo after fighting started late in October last year when Enyele militiamen launched deadly assaults on ethnic Munzayas over fishing and farming rights in the Dongo area.

'The tensions have since expanded to most parts of Equateur province. The DR Congo army has launched an offensive against the Enyele militia," the UN agency said.

It further said there was an acute need for formal refugee sites to be established in both CAR and Republic of Congo as the majority of the DR Congo refugees occupied public buildings and spaces.

'This massive influx is severely stretching the meager resources of this impoverished region, which could lead to tensions with the local community."

In Mougoumba in CAR, the refugees outnumber the locals by 200 to one, while the Likouala region in northern ROC has seen its population double with the arrival of 107,000 refugees.

Meanwhile, UNHCR said it had sent emergency staff to support the displaced refugee communities in this region.