More than 500,000 displaced

The UN refugee agency says 536,000 people have been chased from their homes in eastern Congo this year as a result of clashes between government forces and rebels linked to neighbouring Rwanda’s 1994 genocide.

UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond says 35,000 more people have been uprooted since July 12 when the government embarked on its latest military campaign.

He says there are widespread reports of murder, rape and torture by the Hutu extremist rebels.

In all, there are now 1.8 million people displaced by years of violence and instability in eastern Congo.

Redmond said yesterday that insecurity and lack of access is making it extremely difficult for the refugee agency to assess the latest displacement of people.