Kinshasa, 15 May 2009 - A multidisciplinary MONUC evaluation team (comprising of human rights, child protection and civil affairs experts), has been dispatched since 12 May last to the borders of the territories of Walikale and Kalehe, in the border zone between North and South Kivu. They returned to North Kivu capital Goma today, after a three day mission to Hombo, Otobora, Tshambutsha, and Busurungi. This last locality was the theatre of a fatal raid by FDLR combatants against the civilian population on the night of 9 May 2009.

This mission also made it possible to helicopter evacuate to Goma four seriously injured people (three women and a child), all of whom survived the massacre.

MONUC's evaluation team was able to collect important preliminary information relative to this attack. At least 60 people were killed, and nearly 25 others wounded.

The latter were evacuated to various hospitals and health centres in the zone, with the assistance of humanitarian partners. The populations of the surroundings areas of Busurungi fled their villages in the direction of northern and southern Hombo.

The locality of Busunguri, which is inaccessible by road, required a special mission by helicopter. The latter arrived on the spot on 14 May last, and reported a scene of total desolation. The locality is completely deserted and has been destroyed by fire.

Other MONUC multidisciplinary team missions are envisaged in the zone, in order to continue the investigations and assess the most urgent needs.

MONUC will continue to make all possible efforts to come to the assistance of the wounded and the disaster victims, and will take all essential measures to facilitate the work of humanitarian organisations.

MONUC condemns this murderous attack with the greatest firmness. It once more notes that the FDLR chose to attack innocent civilian living in the most remote isolated zones, in the hope to changing the will of the Congolese authorities to neutralise their activities in the DRC.

MONUC reiterates its determination to continue to support the Congolese Government in its efforts to neutralise this foreign armed group.