ReliefWeb

- One of the most serious consequences of continued fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) consists in human rights abuses against civilians, the vast majority of which are perpetrated by belligerent parties.

- In the Nord-Kivu and Sud-Kivu provinces, approximately 90% of human right abuses are reportedly perpetrated either by the National Army of the DRC (FARDC), or by the Rwandan armed opposition group Democratic Front for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), who are at war against each other. The two parties routinely accuse civilians of collaborating with their enemy. This is often a cause, or a pretext, for some of the abuses committed against civilians.

- Since the beginning of 2009, an increase in human rights abuses was reported, particularly against displaced persons (IDPs). Due to widespread insecurity and the degradation of infrastructure in public sector, the vulnerability of the populations has further increased.