| Summary/Danger |
Ituri province, in the North East of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been the scene of bloody inter-ethnic clashes, factional fighting amongst rival rebel militia and increasing levels of reprisal killings. Civilians have borne the brunt of this violence from all sides where over 50,000 people have been killed in Ituri province since the war begun in 1999. In addition, rape, mutilations, arson, kidnapping are prevalent. Half a million people have been displaced, the region faces food insecurity and public health diseases like cholera and typhoid are on the increase.
The situation has begun to show signs of improvement since the deployment of a French-led EU team to Bunia, the capital of Ituri in June, 2003. The French team is expected to leave by September 1st, this year, when UN troops are expected to take their place. Outside Bunia, however, the situation remains alarming with the killing of civilians still going on and the population remains largely inaccessible to humanitarian relief efforts.
It remains to be seen whether the Security Council of the United Nations will endorse a mandate that extends the safe zone beyond Bunia – where an estimated 4 million people remain at risk.
