The security situation in the East remains severely affected by a high level of activity by national as well as foreign armed groups, having devastating effects on the protection and well-being of the civilian population. Human rights and humanitarian law violations are perpetrated against civilians, especially during clashes between FARDC and armed groups, or between armed groups, as well as during incursions against villages and towns. This violence leads to massive displacement in many areas of North Kivu. The protection monitoring undertaken by UNHCR in various locations hosting IDPs and IDP returnees have allowed for the identification of thousands of cases involving human rights violations and abuses including SGBV, police harassment such as arbitrary arrest, illegal detention and extortion, which were committed against IDPs and members of host communities. Protection monitoring also contributes to an early-warning system where the risks and threats of each area are constantly monitored and protection alerts are shared. Protection monitoring has proven to be an essential instrument that UNHCR should continue to use for the prevention of human rights violations and the identification and documentation of any protection risks and urgent humanitarian needs which should be addressed by the international humanitarian community.
