Kinshasa, 29 January 2014: The head of MONUSCO, Martin Kobler, is extremely concerned by the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Katanga province of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) there are now 400,000 displaced people in the province, a dramatic increase in the last two years. Most affected is the area between Manono, Mitwaba and Pweto where more than 600 houses in 11 villages have been destroyed since October last year.

Most of the attacks in the region are perpetrated by Mayi-Mayi Katanga rebels.

“All armed groups must stop their activities and allow humanitarian access to the main victims of this tragedy, the civilian populations” urged Martin Kobler.