Since December 2006 : 437,000 (Mainly in Rutshuru and Masisi districts)

Total estimated number for entire North Kivu : 800,000

HIGHLIGHTS

Recrudescence of insecurity in Goma city: people are reported killed each day in Kyeshero and Ndosho quarters.

The security situation is volatile on Kiwanja-Nyamilima axis (Rutshuru).

Fighting between FARDC and Mayi-Mayi took place in the region of Chambucha/North Hombo in Walikale territory.

SECURITY AND POLITICAL CONTEXT

Recrudescence of insecurity in Goma city: For the past two weeks, criminality has reached high levels in Goma city, especially in Kyeshero and Ndosho quarters. Armed men have been surrounding houses at night to commit lootings, violence on civilians and assassinations. In less than two weeks, ten people have been killed and other injured. Among the people suffering wounds are a national staff of a UN agency and national employees of International Non Government Organizations. A delegation of victims and other inhabitants of the quarter met with the Governor of Province on 26 March to express their discontent regarding these criminal acts. The governor affirmed having taken radical measures in relation to the insecurity in these areas. Head of UN agencies (OCHA, MONUC and DSS) also met with the Governor North Kivu on the same concern. Joint patrolling with FARDC and PNC are now being conducted.

The security situation remains worrying on Kiwanja-Nyamilima axis (Rutshuru) since Saturday 22 March. FDLR armed men attacked all people passing by and troubled the local population. Four looting inceidents were registered on this axis in only one day, Sunday 23 March.

The locality of North Hombo, 105 Km in southern Walikale territory, was occupied by Mayi-Mayi of Kirikicho, as the area was left vacant by FARDC troops. The FARDC were deploying in this area in order to take back the city of Hombo. Humanitarian partners temporarily suspended their operations in this region. A two hours clash took place on 27 March in Chambucha/North Hombo between FARDC 85th Brigade and Mayi-Mayi Kirikicho and Damien. Finally, FARDC have took Hombo North and Mayi-Mayi pulled out towards unknown location. Humanitarian consequence: Chambucha is vacated by its population which fled towards South Hombo (South Kivu Province), bushes and top of hills. Medical activities were interrupted (supported by INGO IMC in Chambucha : medical staff and patients dispersed).

Follow up of the Peace Conference: the President of the Republic has signed the ordinances on the peace process. The follow up committee of the agreements signed in Goma at the end of the conference should be put into place on Thursday 3 April. MONUC established two zones of exclusions, 2 km wide, in which MONUC will deploy and armed groups withdraw, in order to avoid clashes between armed groups. One is in Ngungu and Muheto (Masisi territory). The armed groups will retire so that MONUC interposes in the middle. Another exclusion zone is being agreed upon near Tongo.

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

Alarming situations / Early warning

Protection - Exactions: A joint UNHCR-OCHA mission was conducted in Luofu (South Lubero) on 27th March. Population denounced forced occupation of houses by soldiers, imposition of illegal taxes on market days, and confiscation of food for soldiers. The situation is a direct consequence of deployment of soldiers who received neither food nor consequent logistics materials.

Health: since the beginning of clashes between PARECO and FDLR/RUD on 28 March, Referral Health Centre (CSR) of Kirumba (South Lubero) has treated 271 war displaced people, without counting children births. These displaced people present precarious health state and lack of food and blankets. ICRC gave 30 blankets to CSR to address most urgent needs, but large quantities are still needed.

Nutrition: local NGO ADNAE and Vitshumbi Health Centre (Rutshuru) report having detected more than 60 malnourished children.

COOPI has conducted a nutritional survey in Pinga (Walikale). Results show an alarming rate of 17.1 % of global acute malnutrition. Preliminary figures still have to be endorsed by the nutrition cluster. COOPI and 8th CEPAC put into place a program to take in charge emergency cases.

Food security: INGO VSF-S (Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Suisse) reports harassment and plundering of goats of the ex-CAAG in Kihindo and Buhunga localities, on Kirotshe axis (Masisi territory). Soldiers ravished 12 goats from the ex-CAAG, after having arrested these young people and before releasing them. VSF-S, in partnership with National NGO SOS Grands Lacs, has been implementing since 2007, a socio-economical reinsertion project, by goat breeding, in aid of children released from forces and armed groups, in Masisi and Kalehe territories.

Population Movements

Rutshuru: IRC / RRM reports that the number of returnees from Uganda increases continually in Ishasha. 230 households express needs for NFI.

South Lubero: Solidarités/RRM conducted an assessment and recorded 998 newly displaced households in Kayna, 287 in Kirumba, 348 in Kaseghe, 977 in Mighobwe, 411 in Kamandi Gîte and 324 in Luofu.

Beni: INGO reports that 2,634 families of returnees are located in South West of Beni territory.

Humanitarian assistance

Protection: Recruitment by the armed groups of more than 50 persons has been reported in Butare, on Bambo-Kabizo axis. Investigations are in progress.

Save Children UK brought back 6 ex-CAAG to Kibirizi. Because of security constraints, the other 73 ex-CAAG identified and placed in transitory host families in Rutshuru are waiting reunification in Nyamilima and South Lubero. Save the children UK fears that children could be re-enrolled by armed groups. SC-UK is taking care of 325 displaced Non Accompanied Children living in sites in Masisi centre and Lushebere. A training on protection of children and respect of children's rights for 34 officers of PNC (National Police of Congo) took place from 26-27 March in Masisi centre.

Protection - DDRRR: MONUC/DDRRR has established 14 demobilization sites in Beni Territory and Walikale, to demobilize FDLR and ADF/NALU soldiers.

Health: 15 injured children from a traffic accident which occurred in Walikale are taken care of at the Heal Africa Hospital in Goma. MONUC provided air transport to evacuate them, while WHO gave a surgical medical kit for treatment.

Masisi Health Zone reports increase of choleriform diarrhoea cases in the area. During the first twelve weeks of 2008, about 744 cases, of which 26 deceased of gastro-enteritis, have been registered in this Health Zone. Among these cases, MSF-B has taken care of more than 502 in its CTC (Centre of Treatment of Cholera) installed in the HGR (General Hospital of Reference) of Masisi. 4 new health areas with high prevalence are facing difficult physical access, which could impede appropriate response to emerging epidemic. WHO Goma sent 300 litres of ringer to Masisi BCZ to alleviate the issue.

Food security: Subsequently to physical access, ICRC carried out a half ration food distribution to 720 households (out of 790 registered previously in Buguri, Masisi territory). Seventy households were reported to have returned to their native village.

Food security / Nutrition: INGO Action Contre la Faim (ACF) completed its assessment mission in Walikale, on 20th March. ACF is planning to open an office in May 2008 in Mpofi, 65 Km from Walikale centre, on Masisi-Goma axis.

Non food items: Actionaid International delivered mattresses to children and pregnant women of the 4 displaced sites of Goma (Mugunga 1and 2, Bulengo and Buhimba) as well as in Rutshuru.

On 21 March, NFI Kits distribution to displaced families in sites and host families in 6 villages around Kirolirwe was completed by IRC. IRC / RRM carried out a distribution of loincloths and fripperies to 2.758 persons.

IRC/ RRM also carried out a distribution of NFI Kits in Nyanzale region: 4,461 displaced persons in the sites of Gihondo and Market, and 1,978 persons in Nyanzale.

Coordination: On 27th March, an inter-agency mission composed of WFP / Rome, UNICEF / Geneva, HCR / Goma and OCHA / Nairobi and Kinshasa came to Goma to assist in developing contingence plans for North and South Kivu provinces. The mission will then go to Bukavu for the same objective.

A delegation of European Union parliamentarians arrived on 27 March in Goma to follow up activities funded by European Union.

A joint mission composed of MONUC / CAS, OCHA and the Provincial Home Office Minister will go to Nyanzale (Rutshuru) on 1st April to assess the humanitarian situation.

Contacts:

Patrick Lavand'homme, Head of Office, Goma (North Kivu), OCHA-DR Congo Email: lavandhomme@un.org

Caroline Draveny, Public Information Officer (North Kivu), OCHA-DR Congo Email: draveny@un.org Tel: +243 (0) 819 889 157