So many affected. (Democratic Republic of The Congo).

As of mid-2002, a total of 2.27 million people had been displaced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and there were 346,000 refugees from Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sudan and other neighbouring countries. An estimated 20 million out of an entire population of 56 million are affected by the conflict.

Deeply concerned at the resumption of fighting in the eastern part of the country and the continuation of instability in the northeast, the Security Council urged the parties to abide by the terms of the Gbadolite Agreement of 30 December 2002 and cease immediately all military activities. The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) had helped the three rebel movements that had been fighting in the northeastern part of the country to reach a ceasefire agreement. The Council on 15 January stressed the need for all parties playing a role in the future of the country to demonstrate their respect for human rights, international humanitarian law, and the security and well-being of civilian populations in areas under their control. It called on all Congolese parties to implement without delay the Pretoria Agreement of 17 December 2002, which provides for an all-inclusive power-sharing arrangement, in order to establish a transitional government leading to elections.

MONUC said corroborating testimonies revealed that soldiers of the Congolese Liberation Movement (MLC) and the Congolese Rally for Democracy/National (RCD-N), during their occupation of Mambasa territory in 2002, used systematic looting and rape", as well as summary executions and abductions, as tactics of war. The UN team, which interviewed over 350 victims and witnesses, also verified that among the people executed, mutilated and cannibalized were members of the pygmy community forced to abandon the forest. The UN continues to receive testimonies and the exact number of victims has not yet been determined.