Alert

Democratic Republic of Congo - No. 03/2010

EASTERN DRC CONFLICT AND DISPLACEMENT

Geneva, 28th January 2010

The humanitarian situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains critical, characterized by internal displacement, large numbers of returnees, human rights abuses and food insecurity. According to UN OCHA's 2010 humanitarian plan, more than 1.8 million people are still displaced in DRC, the majority of whom are in Northern Kivu, South Kivu and Oriental Provinces where ACT Alliance members will continue to respond. According to an interagency assessment in December 2009, Northern Kivu had the highest number of conflict related IDPs of the Eastern DRC provinces, with many houses set on fire by armed militias.

Human rights abuses are common and target especially women and children. According to UN OCHA 2010, one woman in South Kivu province is raped every two hours. Other common abuses include extortion, kidnapping, looting, recruitment of children by armed groups and anti-personnel mine explosions.

ACT forum members have reported substance abuse, depression, irresponsible behavior and mental illness amongst young IDPs and returnees, as well as the presence of unaccompanied children and orphaned children in host families. Food shortages are common, mainly due to livestock looting and inaccessibility to farms for cultivation due to prevailing insecurity.

Impact

Displacement has had a serious effect on the food production capacity of the population as they leave their farms and agricultural tools to flee conflict. Returnees, on the other hand, face challenges in their re-integration to the community including lack of agricultural inputs, inadequate agricultural skills, lack of transportation and acceptance into society. They also put pressure on the available basic facilities like water, sanitation and schools, and increase the risk of disease associated with hygiene and sanitation problems. According to the Musienene, Mukongo, Buyinga and Mabambi health posts, 50% of patients seeking medical help are suffering water-borne diseases.

Host families for both IDPs and returnees are burdened, resulting in loss of productive assets as they share the little food and shelter they have. Households use various coping mechanisms, some of them harmful, resulting to malnutrition amongst children in the community.

Trauma is common in the community and especially for survivors of rape, sexual violence and other gender-based violence. (majority of whom are women and girls).

National and international response

ACT forum members in Eastern DRC have been involved in emergency response since 1997. The last appeal, AFDC81, involved provision of safe water, sanitation and hygiene promotion (WASH) as well as psychosocial activities in Goma Town, Kalehe, Masisi, Rutshuru and Nyiragongo areas. Other activities in camps and host communities are still ongoing, and need further support especially due to the continued displacement related to conflict. Psychosocial support for survivors of human rights violations, especially rape, is identified as a critical part of future response.

Planned Activities

To continue the emergency response, ACT members in DRC are drafting a new appeal to reach out to more than 10,000 households of displaced people, returnees and malnourished children. In coordination with international agencies and local authorities they will provide non food items, agricultural support (seeds, tools, livestock), psychosocial support, school rehabilitation, access to clean potable water and shelter (support to rebuild burnt houses). The target areas for the ACT Forum members include: Goma town, Rutshuru, Masisi, Walikale, Lubero, Kalehe, Beni, Mwenga and Haut Uélé locations. This new appeal will reflect the recommendations from the external evaluation carried out on AFDC81.

ACT forum members in Eastern DRC Norwegian Church Aid, Bureau Oecuménique d'Appui au Développement (BOAD), Evangelical Lutheran Church in Congo (EELC) and Lutheran World Federation are preparing a preliminary appeal, indicating the size and type of relief response for this year, 2010. DanChurchAid and Christian Aid in DRC are planning to get involved in the emergency response.

Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@actalliance.org).

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ACT Alliance - Action by Churches Together - is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working together for positive and sustainable change in the lives of people affected by emergencies, poverty and injustice through coordinated and effective humanitarian, development and advocacy work.