A/HRC/42/32 fighters from the Allied Democratic Forces continued to carry out particularly deadly attacks, killing 244 people (159 men, 76 women and 9 children), which was more than double the toll in the previous reporting period and the highest number among all parties to the conflict in this province. In Masisi territory, the intensification of clashes between armed groups since the beginning of 2019 has led to a significant deterioration in human rights. 31. The outbreak of Ebola virus disease in North Kivu since August 2018 has worsened the human rights situation in this province. Since early 2019, attacks on treatment centres and response teams have increased in the territories of Beni, Butembo and Lubero, led by combatants presumed to be Mai-Mai fighters. In some cases, the defence and security forces have responded to these attacks, and have suppressed demonstrations against their response by certain segments of the population using disproportionate force and causing death and injury. 32. In the Kasai region, despite the decrease in armed clashes, the number of documented violations and abuses remains very high, with State agents being the main perpetrators (85 per cent of the total). The Kamuina Nsapu and Bana Mura militias remained active in Tshikapa and the territories of Kamonia, Luebo and Mweka, in Kasai province, and in the territory of Dibaya, in Kasai-Central province. The situation remains particularly worrying in Kasai province, where the vast majority of violations documented by the Joint Office were concentrated. However, a very significant decrease in the number of victims of extrajudicial and summary executions has been noted in Kasai and KasaiCentral provinces. 33. A resurgence of intercommunal conflict and violence against certain ethnic groups has been observed in the provinces of Mai-Ndombe, Ituri, Tanganyika and Haut-Katanga. In Mai-Ndombe, between 16 and 18 December 2018, after several weeks of tension linked to a land conflict between the Batende and Banunu communities, attacks on Banunu populations in the localities of Yumbi, Bongende and Nkolo killed at least 535 people and injured 111. Despite signs of growing tension, no preventive measures have been taken to strengthen the State’s presence in the territory and prevent violence.3 34. In Ituri province, the period from January to May 2019 was marked by numerous attacks against civilians and positions of the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by groups of armed assailants, presumed to be members of the Lendu community, particularly in the territories of Djugu and Mahagi. In addition, inter-ethnic tensions between the Twa and Luba communities have led to human rights abuses by Twa militiamen in Tanganyika province and Pweto territory in Haut-Katanga, including the arbitrary execution of 37 people (25 men, 9 women and 3 children) and sexual violence against 67 women and 4 children. 35. The situation in Maniema province has deteriorated, with increased activity by MaiMai Malaika fighters and a rise in the number of violations committed by members of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. State agents remain responsible for the vast majority (77 per cent) of documented violations. In Haut-Uélé and Bas-Uélé, the activities of Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) fighters have increased exponentially, rising by 236 per cent. This LRA activity consists mainly of civilian kidnappings coupled with extortion. Victims have often been forced to transport looted property. 36. The situation in conflict-affected areas has resulted in massive population displacement and exacerbated humanitarian needs. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, there are 4.5 million internally displaced persons in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and at least 856,000 others have fled to other 3 GE.19-13875 See Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rapport de mission d’enquête spéciale sur les violences intercommunautaires des 16 et 17 décembre 2018 dans le territoire de Yumbi (Report of the special fact-finding mission on the intercommunal violence of 16 and 17 December 2018 in Yumbi territory), March 2019. Available at: www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/CD/Report_on_Yumbi_March2019.pdf. 7