Attachments
HIGHLIGHTS
• The escalation of hostilities in South Kivu over recent days has led to a significant deterioration in the protection environment for civilian populations. Initial reports indicate that at least 70 civilians have been killed and 80 injured since 2 December, with this number likely to rise considerably. Additional protection risks include family separation, attacks on civilian infrastructure, heightened risks of gender-based violence, and growing constraints on access to essential services and humanitarian assistance.
• Civilians are fleeing bombardment and heavy artillery, with more than 200,000 people internally displaced since 1 December, with this number likely to increase. Secondary displacement is also likely as the conflict spreads to areas where IDPs had initially sought safety.
• Against this backdrop there has been a significant influx of new arrivals from eastern DRC to Burundi, with the Government reporting at least 33,000 new arrivals between 5 and 9 December. This includes over 4,000 Burundian refugees who have spontaneously returned from DRC. Initial reports indicate significant vulnerabilities among the new arrivals, including individuals with injuries sustained in the conflict. A temporary site has been established near Buganda, close to the DRC border, to accommodate the new arrivals.
• Although smaller, a significant increase in new arrivals was also recorded to Rwanda between 3 and 7 December, with the Government reporting that 1,000 new arrivals entered the country via the Bugarama crossing point in the southwest of the country. At the time of writing these movements appear to have slowed.