Calls for Support from Donor Community, Hails “Resilience” of Congolese
North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo 10 Dec 2012 - Over 130,000 people displaced by recent fighting between the M23 rebel group and the Congolese army continue to take shelter around Goma in camps that have limited access to food, water, sanitation and medical assistance, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) said today. It said thousands of other Congolese are returning home only to find their houses and crops destroyed and basic infrastructure, such as health centers and schools, severely damaged.
The IRC said it is ramping up its emergency response both in the camps and in villages to which large numbers of residents are returning. Across Nyiragongo and Rutshuru Territories, the IRC is working to repair and restock health centers and schools that had been occupied by numerous displaced people or were damaged by fighting and looting.
The IRC is also providing psychosocial assistance to survivors of sexual violence and ensuring that they have access to proper medical care. In addition, the agency is working to mitigate risks for women and girls in the highly insecure environment and is planning to distribute over 3,000 “dignity kits” containing feminine hygiene items.
The IRC is calling for further robust support from the international community to help provide basic services for vulnerable populations, including women and girls, who are susceptible to increased sexual violence because of insecure living arrangements, lack of protective services and the continued prevalence of multiple armed groups.
Aisha Bain, the IRC’s emergency team leader in North Kivu, said, “Countering the threat of violence to women and girls in emergencies saves lives. Donors and the humanitarian community alike must ensure sufficient funding is immediately available for lifesaving services, shelter and protection and to meet the specific needs of women and girls.”
A further 47,000 people have sought refuge in neighboring South Kivu and are now mostly sheltering with host families. Current estimates indicate about 134,000 displaced in Minova and Bweremana, South Kivu, leading to an important increase of humanitarian needs in all sectors.
The current displacement is the latest development in long-running turmoil that has afflicted war-ravaged eastern Congo. Since the beginning of the year, an estimated 700,000 people have been uprooted in North and South Kivu. Communities are either directly targeted or are caught in the crossfire of attacks and counterattacks carried out by the many armed groups active in the area.
Bain said that protection of civilians remains a big concern. Armed men attacked one camp near Goma a few days ago, reportedly with the intent of looting the food rations that had been distributed. Meanwhile, crimes such as housebreak-ins are routinely reported in many city neighborhoods.
“The resiliency and resourcefulness of the Congolese people are truly remarkable,” Bain said. “The fact that they have been through total devastation several times over and yet constantly work to rebuild and create a future for their children is testament to their strength. But the situation is serious, the impact of conflict enormous and there are many signs that it may get worse before it gets better.”
NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information and interviews please contact Sinziana Demian (Goma),
+243 995 200 516; Paul Donohoe (London), +44 (0)20 7692 2727/ 07779 624 385; and Vanessa Parra (New York), 1 212 551 2744/646 318 7307
A global leader in humanitarian assistance, the International Rescue Committee works in over 40 countries offering help and hope to refugees and others uprooted by conflict and oppression. The IRC has been working in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 1996 and maintains one of the largest humanitarian aid programs in the country. The IRC runs extensive programs that provide health care, emergency relief for displaced populations, medical assistance and support services for survivors of sexual violence, community development, and increased access to education and training. Our programs aim to save lives, revive communities and strengthen local capacity for recovery.
