Global General

UN reports over 500 rapes in eastern Congo

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-09-09 09:22

UNITED NATIONS - The UN reported that more than 500 systematic rapes were committed by armed combatants in eastern Congo since late July - more than double the number previously reported - and accepted partial responsibility for not protecting citizens.

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UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Atul Khare told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that at least 267 more rapes occurred in another area of the country's east, in addition to 242 rapes earlier reported in and around Luvungi, a village of about 2,200 people located about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from a UN peacekeepers' camp.

"While the primary responsibility for protection of civilians lies with the state, its national army and police force," said Khare, "clearly, we have also failed. Our actions were not adequate, resulting in unacceptable brutalization of the population of the villages in the area. We must do better."

The UN peacekeeping force in Congo, called MONUSCO, on Sept 1 launched an operation using 750 troops to back efforts by Congolese security forces to arrest the perpetrators of the attacks, said Khare. At least 27 rebels armed with automatic rifles have surrendered and at least four more have been arrested, he said.

Associated Press