Humanitarian Situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Briefing note, 14 October 2009 Headlines ¾ Two inter-agency missions deployed. One to the Equateur province, to assess the situation of newly arrived Central African nationals. The other to the Bas-Congo province, to assess the conditions and needs of expulsees between Angola and the DRC. ¾ Return movements of IDPs continue in the Nord-Kivu province. Bas-Congo province Expulsions between Angola and the DRC • An inter-agency assessment mission1 has been deployed from 8 to 10 October to the territories of Tshela and Muanda to assess the situation of Congolese nationals expelled from Angola. At the present time, there is no reliable data on the quantity of individuals expelled, or on those Congolese nationals still in Angola. • Among Congolese nationals expelled from Angola, humanitarians can distinguish two types: those who can be called “forced voluntary expulsees”, being those who left following threats; and those who were physically deported to the border. Those of the latter type, for the most part, report that they have been the victim of theft and extortion during the expulsion, and have mostly arrived with little or no belongings. Both types of expulsees include small businesspeople, women, and children. The humanitarian situation of the expulsees is worrying, but currently under control. • The situation is of greater concern in the Cataractes district, as regards Angolan nationals being expelled from the DRC. This group includes refugees, which has prompted the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to complain to the Government of the DRC about their refoulement, thereby receiving assurances that this will be stopped. • According to rough estimations, between 20,000 and 40,000 Angolans, as of yesterday, were in the process of being expelled through the border posts of Lufu in the Songololo territory, and Kuzi in the Mbanza-Ngungu territory. The presence of such high numbers of vulnerable people in the border areas poses concerns in terms of water and sanitation, and health. • The departure of Angolans from the DRC could cause damage to the local economies, with some factories losing up to one third of their staff. The education sector could also be affected, since the expulsees include teachers. • Nevertheless, the governments of Angola and the DRC have announced the temporary suspension of expulsions, and are currently discussing the matter. Humanitarians are therefore monitoring the situation very closely, ready to respond to any humanitarian needs as appropriate. Equateur province Central African prima facie refugees • An inter-agency2 assessment mission has been deployed from 4 to 6 October to Mobayi Mbongo, in the district of Nord-Ubangi, to verify the presence and assess the conditions of Central African nationals who fled from inter-communal violence in the Basse Coteaux area of the Central African Republic (CAR). At the present time, 475 persons, including 177 children aged under five, are hosted in difficult conditions in two buildings of the Mobayi Mbongo hospital. 1 Caritas, FAO, IOM, OCHA, OMS, Red Cross, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF 2 MONUC, OCHA, UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO • Humanitarian are preparing a response. Some aid is already on the way, including kitchen sets, blankets, and buckets. A second inter-agency mission has been deployed on 14 October to the area, to organise the delivery of the aid. • Although the areas of origin are now reportedly calm, the individuals prefer not to return home at the present time. On the CAR side, another inter-agency mission led by UNHCR and the World Food Programme (WFP) is currently in the areas of origin to assess the situation. Katanga province Repatriation of Congolese refugees from Zambia • The UNHCR continues its activities aimed at facilitating the movement of convoys for the voluntary repatriation of Congolese refugees from Zambia. Two convoys were organized this week, bringing a total of 1,041 individuals to the areas of Moba and Pweto, in the Tanganyika district. • Since the start of 2009, 13,371 Congolese have been repatriated from Zambia, thereby arriving to the Katanga province Pilot project to increase agricultural production for small farmers • The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and WFP, with support from the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium, have launched on 13 October a pilot project aimed at increasing agricultural production and facilitating access to markets in the Kabalo territory. This project will involve 4,000 small farmers, thereby supporting entire communities. Nord-Kivu province Returns of IDPs • During the last two months, the return of approximately 110,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) has been recorded in Nord-Kivu, including 50,000 who were hosted in camps managed by UNHCR and its partners. • In the areas of return, in particular Masisi and Rutshuru, assistance is provided to the entire community through a holistic approach, without distinguishing between returnees and others. This is the best approach, in the view of humanitarians, to ensure the successful reintegration of returnees and preventing tensions among the communities. • It should be recalled that on 14 September, UNHCR had launched an operation to regroup IDPs in the camps around Goma, including Mugunga III. A total of 61,018 persons have since left the camps, and all have received three-month food rations from WFP, non-food items (NFIs) from UNHCR, as well as agricultural tools and inputs from FAO. The Mugunga III camp currently hosts a remainder of 3,338 IDPs who prefer not to return to their areas of origin at the present time. Province Orientale Fight against Foot-and-mouth disease • The NGO OXFAM Great Britain (OXFAM-GB) has provided to the provincial authorities 750 units of vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease (Aphtae epizooticae), which is seriously affecting livestock in the Irumu territory. The FAO also intends to provide related medical supplies during the coming week. Meanwhile, treatment against the disease for infected cows has also started on 12 October in Kasenyi and Tchomia. It should be recalled that this epidemic has already affected 4,000 cows in the Irumu territory, with very serious humanitarian consequences on the population. Incurision by armed elements in Nyakunde • Following incursion by armed elements in the village of Nyakunde (48 km south of Bunia) on the night of 11 October, the local populations have fled to Marabo (45 km south of Bunia), but figures are not yet available. The abduction of two girls by the armed elements has also been reported. Sud-Kivu province Armed attacks against civilians • In the area of Bunyakiri, five women have been raped on 05 October by armed elements, who are believed to be members of the national army. One woman has been killed, while the four survivors are being treated by humanitarians. At least 5,387 cases of rape of women have been reported in the province during the first six months of 2009. Humanitarians wish to once again renew their appeal to all belligerent parties to put an end to human right violations, and to punish those responsible. • On the night of 12 October, armed elements have attacked the hospital of Mukongola, in the Kabare territory. Two doctors have been seriously injured. The attackers have stolen valuable items needed for the functioning of the hospital. For more information, please contact: Maurizio Giuliano, Public Information and Advocacy Manager, Tel. +243-81-9889195, [email protected] Sylvestre Ntumba Mudingayi, Associate Information officer, Tel. +243-99-8845386, [email protected] .
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