Civilians fleeing fighting between Congolese government troops and rebel militias in North Kivu Province have been forced to shelter in makeshift camps 100km from Goma town, aid workers said to IRINnews.
Thousands of others are living in the bush, hiding during the day and going to their fields at night.
Humanitarian sources said thousands of people had been displaced since clashes between the two groups started in January, including more than 64,000 who fled their homes in North Kivu alone over recent weeks.
The latest fighting flared up on Tuesday as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) troops launched an offensive against Rwandan rebels hiding in the east of the vast country.
The Forces armées de la république démocratique du Congo (FARDC) is an integrated national army, comprising former rebel fighters, militias and soldiers from the former national army. Human rights groups, however, say the soldiers are responsible for human rights violations in Orientale Province.
The Rwandan fighters are accused of perpetrating the 1994 genocide in their home country, before fleeing to hide in DRC. Some are using children to fight for them, according to human rights groups.
Congolese military authorities acknowledged displacements of civilians, but insisted there had not been any significant waves of people fleeing in the last few weeks.
According to the UN, more than 1.1 million Congolese are displaced within their own country by conflict and persecution.
Kilde: www.irinnews.org
