300,000 flee flare-up of ethnic violence in north-eastern DR Congo.

More than 300,000 people have been forced to flee resurgent inter-ethnic violence in north-east Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) just this month, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Tuesday.

Citing multiple attacks and counter-attacks between Hema herders and Lendu farmers, UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch told journalists in Geneva that the situation had worsened in recent days.

The development comes amid reports of intense fighting between the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and non-state armed actors in Djugu territory, as the authorities attempt to bring the situation under control in the vast, resource-rich region.

'People are fleeing attacks and counter attacks in Djugu Territory, with reports of both communities forming self-defence groups and being involved in revenge killings', Mr. Baloch said.

'The details we are receiving from our partners, and also some of the displaced', he said, included reports of 'brutalities against civilians, killings, sexual violence, and other extreme forms of violence against civilians', noting that UNHCR's warning is based on information received from sources in 125 locations.

Three of Ituri's five administrative territories - Djugu, Mahagi and Irumu - have all seen mass displacement after self-defence militia reportedly carried out 'revenge killings', according to UNHCR.

Peacekeepers beef-up presence in trouble-spots

In response to fears that the situation could escalate further, the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC, which goes by the French acronym MONUSCO, has set up three temporary military bases in Djugu and Mahagi.

Teams have also been deployed to assess the situation and engage with communities and the authorities to help prevent more attacks.

Simmering rivalry between the Hema and Lendu goes back decades; in the five-year war which began in 1998, thousands were killed.

Then, as...