Kinshasa, Dec 9 (NationPress) All factions involved in the conflict within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are urged to adhere to international humanitarian law and ensure the safety of civilians. Bruno Lemarquis, the UN humanitarian coordinator for the nation, emphasized the necessity of differentiating between civilians and combatants during military operations.

"The deployment of explosive weapons in densely populated locales and assaults on essential civilian structures, including schools, is resulting in an intolerable loss of life and must cease without delay. Civilians and civilian structures are not legitimate targets," Lemarquis articulated on Monday.

In a nationwide speech given on Monday in Kinshasa, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi reported that the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels had initiated an offensive against the DRC Armed Forces in South Kivu Province.

A statement released on Monday indicated that numerous regions within South Kivu, such as Uvira, Walungu, Mwenga, Shabunda, Kabare, Fizi, and Kalehe, have experienced intense clashes involving heavy artillery and shelling in populated areas recently.

The escalating violence in South Kivu has resulted in a minimum of 74 fatalities and has displaced over 200,000 individuals since December 2, according to statistics from the UN. This crisis exacerbates an already critical situation, as South Kivu was already hosting 1.2 million internally displaced persons prior to this latest escalation.

Since the beginning of the year, the security conditions in eastern DRC have significantly deteriorated. The M23 has increased its assaults in both North Kivu and South Kivu, leading to numerous civilian casualties and widespread displacement, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has noted that the food security situation in the DRC is deteriorating rapidly. Blockades have caused a surge in the prices of essential goods. The cost of sugar has surged sixfold, and cassava flour prices have more than tripled since January.

The National Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons in Burundi is calling for immediate action, especially in the sectors of food, health, and water, sanitation, and hygiene.

OCHA has urgently appealed to all conflict parties to fulfill their commitments under international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure. Humanitarian access must be ensured to allow life-saving assistance to reach those in urgent need, the office stated.