22/08/13 UN News Center: UN peacekeepers ready to protect civilians as clashes continue in North Kivu

In a briefing to reporters,
a UN spokesperson in New York
said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN
Stabilization Mission in the country (MONUSCO), Martin
Kobler, had given the order following clashes between the national forces
(FARDC) and the M23 armed group.

The fighting reportedly
occurred in the Kibati area, 15 kilometres north of Goma. MONUSCO said
populated areas and UN positions were directly targeted by mortars and hit by
indiscriminate fire.

Yesterday, MONUSCO stepped
up its patrols and said it would send in helicopters to protect civilians. The Mission has also
activated a contingency plan in the area.

Over the past year, the
M23, along with other armed groups, have clashed repeatedly with the national
forces (FARDC) in the eastern DRC. The group briefly occupied Goma in November
2012.