Johannesburg – Fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo between last week and the M23 rebel army has forced more than 72,000 people to flee their homes, the United Nations said on Friday.The M23, a rebel group that claims to represent Tutsi interests in eastern Congo, has been rocked by violence since 2012-2013. There were heavy fighting about 12 miles (12 km) east of the Congolese capital Goma, and rebels briefly captured the largest military base in the area.
Of the 72,000 refugees, about 7,000 have reportedly crossed into neighboring Uganda, the U.N. said. Refugee Agency statement. Some have set sail for Goma or have taken refuge in shelters set up to evacuate people from the volcanic eruption last year.Eastern Congo has been in constant conflict since 1996, when Rwanda and other neighboring provinces attacked following Hutu militias who participated in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.Congo has 5.6 million people fleeing settlements, most of them in Africa, according to U.N. figures. At least 1.9 million are in North Kivu, a war-torn province.
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