GENEVA, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday that it has fears about the escalation of violence in the northeastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where more than 300,000 people have been reportedly displaced since early June.
UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch said at a UN briefing here that the situation in Ituri Province has deteriorated since mid last week, with multiple attacks involving the Hema and Lendu groups.
"The UN Refugee Agency fears this escalation could engulf large parts of the province," said Baloch.
"We are gravely concerned for the safety of civilians after receiving reports of killings, kidnappings, maiming, and sexual violence being unleashed against people," the spokesperson added.
Inter-ethnic attacks between the two communities had already led to widespread displacement in late 2017 and early 2018, but the situation had calmed.
Large-scale displacement is now reported in three of Ituri's five administrative territories: Djugu, Mahagi and Irumu.
"People are fleeing attacks and counter-attacks in Djugu Territory, with reports of both communities forming self-defense groups and being involved in revenge killings," said Baloch.
The estimates have been received from local sources in 125 locations.
UNHCR and other humanitarian players do not have access to most of the affected areas at present.
Military operations are currently reported to be underway in Djugu territory to bring the situation under control.
UNHCR said people are now sleeping in the open or public buildings, with the most significant concentration of displaced people being 10,000 sleeping in or near the church in Drodro, Djugu Territory, without any viable assistance.
Nearly 20,000 people have reached Ituri's provincial capital, Bunia.
Many more are trying to get to the relative safety of sites near Bunia but are reportedly blocked by armed youths from both ethnic groups.
Others are trying to cross Lake Albert to Uganda.
Just south of Ituri, in North Kivu province, UNHCR has recently begun an emergency response for nearly 100,000 displaced people in Nobili, near the border with Uganda.
DRC has an estimated 4.5 million internally displaced people, said UNHCR.
