IRC Appeals for Increased U.N. Support of D.R. Congo Peacekeeping Mission

The IRC has expressed concern about the security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo amid renewed fighting this week in the east of the country.

“We are worried about the lack of political will and the escalating violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said Christina Munzer, IRC’s program manager for the Great Lakes region of Africa.

The violence in DR Congo’s Sud-Kivu province comes after the IRC issued a September 22 appeal to the United Nations Security Council for increased support and funds for the United Nations peacekeeping mission (MONUC) in the country.

“Without extending and fortifying MONUC’s mandate there is the very real risk that a continued worsening of security and an increase in forced migration will, once again, greatly limit people’s access to humanitarian aid,” Munzer said.

Some 15,000 people have fled towns and villages near Numbi in South Kivu for neighboring North Kivu as government forces clashed with dissident troops who have been waging a rebellion in eastern DR Congo for the past four months.

“We are continuing our work in the east while at the same time scaling up our emergency response and preparedness in response to the recent fighting,” said Alyoscia d’Onofrio, the IRC’s country director in DR Congo.

The IRC is providing approximately one million war-affected people in eastern DR Congo with emergency water and sanitation, primary health care services, as well as support for survivors of gender-based violence.