The international emergency medical humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has provided specialized care to 53 women, men and children who were raped in a series of incidents that occurred between Jan. 19 and Jan. 21 in South Kivu, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Most of the rape survivors MSF treated yesterday say they were ambushed around the village of Nakatete on Jan. 19 as they returned from the market. They told MSF they were held hostage throughout the day, raped multiple times and subjected to degrading treatment. Patients ranged in age from 13 years old to 60 years old. Women and girls were separated from men and their clothes and belongings were stolen.

Eleven women treated by MSF yesterday say they were ambushed on Jan. 20 in the village of Kitumba on their way back from the market, and were robbed and raped by a group of armed men. MSF also treated two women and a man who were similarly attacked in the same location the next day.

These new incidents of mass rape come a few weeks after a mass rape on New Year’s Day in the Fizi region.

“In the space of a few weeks alone, MSF has provided medical treatment for nearly 100 women, men and children – all of whom have been raped in mass attacks,” says Annemarie Loof, MSF head of mission in South Kivu. “We are extremely concerned about the fate of civilians in this area – normal people who have nothing to do with the conflict and who bear the brunt of a recent increase in violence and insecurity in this part of eastern DRC.”

For years civilians in eastern DRC have suffered sexual violence related to the conflict. But MSF has not provided medical treatment for rape on this scale in South Kivu since 2004. In an already volatile context, MSF is confronted with what appears to be a further deterioration in the situation which has a direct impact on civilians.

DRC © Kate Geraghty
For years civilians in eastern DRC have suffered sexual violence related to the conflict. Here, a survivor of sexual violence who was treated by MSF at a women's health unit in 2009.

MSF has provided medical care to those affected – caring for wounds and injuries and providing preventative treatment for possible sexually transmitted infections. The survivors were also vaccinated against Hepatitis B and tetanus. Those girls and women who were seen in time were offered the morning-after pill to prevent unwanted pregnancy.

In South Kivu, MSF provides emergency healthcare to people suffering from violence, sexual violence, displacement, malaria, malnutrition and disease outbreaks such as cholera and measles. In 2010, MSF medical teams in the Fizi region treated 20,000 malaria patients, gave 65,000 medical consultations, cared for 10,000 inpatients at Baraka hospital and helped to deliver 4,000 babies.

Throughout North and South Kivu in DRC, MSF runs hospitals, mobile clinics, health centres, vaccination campaigns and cholera programs, and provides treatment and psychosocial care to survivors of sexual violence. In 2009 alone, MSF provided medical and psychosocial care for 5,600 rape survivors in North and South Kivu.

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