Over 1000 artifacts unearthed at Al-Ukhdood site in Najran    Tabuk's Shigry Mountains offer a glimpse into earth's ancient history and human heritage    Al-Falih: Saudi Arabia expected to host over 1,000 RHQs for global companies in a few years    Roblox suspends voice and text chats, blocks 300,000 games in Saudi Arabia    HONOR to participate in Global Symposium for Regulators 2025 in Saudi Arabia    Indian doctors remove parasitic foetuses from baby's stomach    Restored Big Ben tower up for architecture award    OpenAI puts parental controls in ChatGPT but critics say it is a 'vague promise'    Out of control: Witnesses describe fatal Lisbon funicular crash    Florida plans to end vaccine mandates statewide, including for schoolchildren    Historic California gold mining town overrun by fast-moving wildfire    17th-century painting stolen during World War II recovered in Argentina    Dutch PM calls Saudi Crown Prince to discuss Gaza situation    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series laptops redefine learning, creating and gaming    Chloe Malle to become top editor at American Vogue    Al Qadsiah sign German midfielder Julian Weigl to strengthen defensive midfield    Al Ahli secure Flamengo starlet Matheus Gonçalves in long-term deal through 2027    Al Hilal sign Turkish defender Yusuf Akcicek on €22m deal until 2029    Dances With Wolves star Graham Greene dies aged 73    Saudi Arabia officially documents 123 years of football history    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



DR Congo: 'Widespread and systematic' violence linked to clashes over gold
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 13 - 08 - 2021

Rival armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are carrying out horrific sexual attacks against women and girls, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) warned on Friday.
The alert was prompted by what UNHCR has called "widespread and systematic" abuse in Tanganyika province, where thousands of people have been internally displaced this year, often many times.
"Some women and girls have been abducted and used as sex slaves by armed group members," spokesperson Shabia Mantoo told journalists in Geneva.
'Horrific violence'
The UNHCR spokesperson explained that in just the past two weeks, humanitarian partners in the Kongolo and Mbulula health zones, have recorded 243 incidents of rape, 48 of which involved minors, in 12 different villages.
Noting that the actual figures are thought to be even higher, as reporting of gender-based violence remains taboo in most communities, she said that amounted to an average of 17 reported attacks per day.
"Our staff have heard horrific testimonies of extreme violence".
In addition to the huge physical and psychological trauma from being raped, survivors of sexual violence can face stigma and possible exclusion from their families.
Rival armed groups
Since May, more than 23,000 people have been displaced in northern Tanganyika's Kongolo Territory alone, according to local authorities. And most have fled insecurity multiple times in the past three months.
As of last month, UN estimates reveal that insecurity and violence have uprooted nearly 310,000 people, and are currently displaced in Tanganyika Province.
According to the UNHCR spokesperson, rival armed groups responsible for the attacks were competing for control of mining areas — especially gold mines — and the abuse was linked to retaliation for government-led military operations.
"Forcibly displaced persons have accused armed groups of carrying out mass rape as women attempt to flee their homes," she said, adding that "ransoms have been demanded from families in exchange for their freedom".
'Triangle of death'
While the UN agency remains committed to helping the survivors, ongoing violence and the need to travel long distances for care at medical centers are hampering its work.
To protect civilians, especially women and girls, UNHCR is calling on the authorities to urgently scale up security in the so-called "triangle of death" — an area bordering several localities between Tanganyika, Maniema, and South Kivu Provinces.
The move would also allow humanitarian access as well as for investigations to be launched and perpetrators to be brought to justice.
"Humanitarian and protection needs are growing and UNHCR is seeking further financial support," Mantoo said, informing the journalists that only 36 percent of the $205 million required for DRC operation has been received. — UN News


Clic here to read the story from its source.