KINSHASA, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- All parties to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) must respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians, including distinguishing between civilians and combatants during military operations, urged Bruno Lemarquis, the UN humanitarian coordinator in the country on Monday.

"The use of explosive weapons in populated areas and attacks on civilian infrastructure, such as schools, are causing unacceptable loss of life and must stop immediately. Civilians and civilian infrastructure are not targets," Lemarquis said.

In a national address delivered Monday in Kinshasa, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi said that rebels of the March 23 Movement (M23) had launched an offensive against the Armed Forces of the DRC in the country's South Kivu Province.

According to a statement issued on Monday, several territories across South Kivu, including Uvira, Walungu, Mwenga, Shabunda, Kabare, Fizi and Kalehe, have witnessed clashes involving heavy weaponry and shelling in densely populated areas in recent days.

Escalating fighting in South Kivu province has left at least 74 people dead and displaced more than 200,000 others since Dec. 2, according to UN statistics. The crisis adds to an already dire situation, with South Kivu hosting 1.2 million internally displaced people before the latest escalation.

Since January, the security situation in eastern DRC has sharply deteriorated. The M23 has intensified attacks in both North Kivu and South Kivu, causing numerous civilian casualties and widespread displacement. Enditem