UN Security Council members have decried the deteriorating security and humanitarian crisis in eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The News agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the crisis is due to ongoing military activities of the 23 March Movement rebel group (M23).
Amb. Hardeep Puri of India, the Council's President for the month of November made this known when he briefed newsmen at the end of the session at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Puri noted that the council members at the end of their emergency session on Saturday condemned the resumption of attacks by the rebels.
The council called for immediate cease fire and a halt to any further advances toward the city of Goma as well as the cessation of outside support and supply of equipment to the M23.
He added that the council criticised the continued violations of international humanitarian and human rights law by the group.
According to him, the council will apply additional targeted sanctions against the leadership of the M23 and those acting in violation of the sanctions regime and the arms embargo.
UN, he said, decried the increasing number of displaced persons and refugees.
He called on all parties, particularly the M23 to exercise restraint to allow safe, timely and unhindered humanitarian access to those in need of assistance.
He, however, reaffirmed UN’s commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the DRC.
Puri said the council commended the active steps taken by the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) to implement its mandate, warning that it would not tolerate any thing that would undermine the mission’s efforts.
The members reiterate the importance of the efforts of the ICGLR to resolve the conflict and find a lasting political solution to it.
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