afrol News, 30 July - Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been reeling with the effects of devastating conflicts, which according to the Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Jean-Claude Muyambo, results to the displacement of at least six million people in recent years.

Minister Muyambo’s statement follows an assessment mission he had conducted in the country’s various regions.

He had briefed politicians and journalists about the outcome of his mission in the capital Kinshasa.

“At least six million people have abandoned their hometowns and villages to escape fighting, especially in the north and south-east Kivu region, northeast Ituri, central-east Maniema, north/south-east Katanga and north-west Equator,” he said.

It has been estimated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees that over over a million people have been displaced by the Congolese conflicts. Over 400,000 have also fled the country mainly because of the war.

But the Congolese Minister says the government has become sensitive to the plight of all the displaced people, including the victims of natural calamities such as floods. He raises the curtain over the government’s plans to construct housing for thousands of homeless people in Kinshasa. This project will do away with illegal shanties or slumps in the capital.

Plans are also afoot to construct housing for homeless people in Lubumbashi mining area.

Congolese officials are also worried about what they the high number of their nationals deported from the neighbouring Angolan diamond mining districts of Lunda norte and Lunda Sul. The deportees have been accused of involving in illegal mining without legal immigration status.

Officials of Angola and DRC are said to be holding meetings over the issue. President Joseph Kabila is currently on a two-day official visit to Angola.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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