DR Congo Conflict: UNHCR appeals for more aid amid influx of refugees to Uganda

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The United Nations refugee agency has warned of a growing humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where violence between warring factions has escalated. The UNHCR's funding is falling short by over 30 percent, as more than 500 Congolese refugees arrive daily in Uganda. Isabel Nakirya has the story.

ISABEL NAKIRYA KAMPALA, UGANDA "UNHCR says violence in eastern DR Congo has left dozens killed and huts burnt. The Ituri province in North Eastern Congo has seen violence between ethnic tribes leading to thousands of displacements."

And fighting between militia groups in the North Kivu region has escalated as well. The UN Refugee agency is concerned about the massive influx of refugees into Uganda.

JENS HESEMANN SENIOR FIELD COORDINATOR, UNHCR "If you look at the overall refugee population there are many more South Sudanese refugees in the country than Congolese because over the last year South Sudan influx has been severe but it has gone down but at the moment the influx from Congo is much worse so this is the situation which we now have to focus on to save lives."

The Congolese refugee influx is much higher than what the UN refugee agency anticipated. More than 60,000 refugees have crossed into Uganda since January and are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

JENS HESEMANN SENIOR FIELD COORDINATOR, UNHCR "This response currently is very underfunded and that's one of our main challenges. The DR Congo situation has been humanitarian situation for a long time and we've had civilian populations as victims of that for long but the donor attention is very limited."

ISABEL NAKIRYA KAMPALA, UGANDA "About a hundred and fifty million dollars had been earmarked for the Congolese refugee situation, but that is now not enough. UNHCR says donors need to pay more attention to the crisis. Isabel Nakirya, CGTN, KAMPALA."