DR Congo Hospital Destroyed By Rebels Was Serving 80,000 People – UN official
A UN Humanitarian Coordinator has lamented the extent of damage suffered in the Ituri, DR Congo hospital and in other places.
The Boga hospital in Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo that was attacked and razed on Monday, June 7, 2021 by rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) was serving over 80,000 citizens, a UN official has confirmed.
“I am shocked and saddened by the new attack in Ituri. Children, women and men are in need of the services from this hospital to survive in this zone which is seriously impacted by violence,” David McLachlan-Karr, the United Nations Resident Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs in the DR Congo, said on Thursday, June 10, 2021 in Kinshasa.
“Attacking medical structures, medical personnel, and patients are violations of international humanitarian law. The dark days continue in Ituri”, McLachlan-Karr declared, adding that the security situation in Ituri continues to aggravate.
“Since the beginning of the year, the health authorities have counted at least four attacks against medical structures in the lone health zone of Boga, including the destruction and looting of health centres as well as the abduction of health personnel,” the UN Humanitarian Coordinator added.
The most deadly of these attacks took place on May 31, 2021 in Bota and Tchabi with at least 50 persons killed, followed by another attack which targeted the offices of an international non-governmental organisation in Drodro, situated in Djugu territory.
“It is the responsibility of the Congolese state to protect the civilians and humanitarian actors. I call on the military government in Ituri to reinforce the security of civilians and permit humanitarian assistance to come to the aid of persons in need,” McLachlan-Karr concluded.
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