The UN Security Council is calling for increased measures to prevent a repeat of the recent mass rapes of almost 200 women and five young boys in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwandan and Congolese rebels carried out the rapes between July 30th and August 3rd within miles of a UN peacekeeping base. The UN was notified days later but waited three weeks to respond. The top UN envoy to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Robert Meece, visited the area on Thursday.

Robert Meece: “I have had an opportunity to talk to base personnel and to the local chief. I think I have a better understanding, but this is a very difficult environment. It’s absolutely necessary that we do all possible for civilian protection and to prevent these kinds of horror. But this is also a very difficult environment in which we work. The countryside is very rough, and there is very little access.”