Hundreds flee violence in DRC

GENEVA, Switzerland, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Escalating conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo government troops and those loyal to former DRC General Laurent Nkunda has forced hundreds to flee.

The United Nations says that hundreds of people have fled to a makeshift camp for displaced persons in Goma as a result of heavy fighting between rebels, renegade troops and government forces near Sake. Officials say the sites are about to reach capacity, the U.N. refugee agency reported.

"We fear renewed fighting will bring more suffering in an already desperate humanitarian situation," Andrej Mahecic, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees spokesman, said in a statement.

"With sharpening inter-ethnic divides and a continuous buildup of military forces, UNHCR is deeply concerned about the risks of severe human rights abuses and violence against civilians."

Conflict and military buildup in North Kivu has led to the massive population displacement. U.N. officials estimate that since December 2006 approximately 405,000 Congolese have been forced from their homes.

"All the four sites in the Goma area are about to reach maximum capacity," said Marcelin Hepie, UNHCR's deputy representative in Goma. "With the intensification of fighting on different fronts, we need sites to host new arrivals in desperate need of security. But what we need is for the guns to fall silent. What we need most is peace."