The Guardian has a story today about Rwandan and Congolese rebels who attacked some 200 people - almost 200 women and some baby boys -within just a few miles of a UN peacekeepers' base in an eastern mining district of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This attack took place more than three weeks ago but the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo has yet to issue a statement, saying yesterday it was still investigating the atrocities (see yesterday's WVoN story).
Will F Cragin, of the International Medical Corps, said aid and UN workers knew rebels had occupied Luvungi town and surrounding villages in eastern Congo the day after the attack began, on 30 July.
There had been no fighting and no deaths, Cragin said, just "lots of pillaging and the systematic raping of women".
I am sorry - did I see the word 'just' in that sentence?
There is as yet no clear picture of how many women are being attacked, many in their homes in front of their husbands and children. It is reported that many have been emerging from the surrounding forest naked and by the time they have sought help it is too late to give them anti-aids medications. Others have been too afraid to come forward at all.
Rape as a 'weapon of war' is now commonplace in the area, where rebels are driven by the looting of rich mineral reserves. Peacekeepers are apparently significantly outnumbered and hampered by the knowledge that it is the soldiers as well as the rebels who are often accused of raping and pillaging.
To make matters worse (hard to believe, but true), salon.com says that this systematic violence towards women is becoming all pervasive, with more and more women being abused and killed by their husbands.
