DR Congo: OCHA Humanitarian Situation Update No. 10 - North Kivu, 11 Nov 2008

• Large scale looting and attacks by FARDC elements occurred during the night of 10 November in Kanyabayonga and the localities of Kirumba and Kayna

- Constant spread of cholera: Within a week, the number of cholera cases has doubled in Minova. In Kibati 5 suspected cases are being treated. Organizations are increasing their efforts to control the spread of the epidemic.

Political and Security Context

- During the night of 10 to 11 November large scale looting and attacks by FARDC occurred in Kanyabayonga and the localities of Kirumba and Kayna. As a precautionary measure, the vast majority of humanitarian workers present in these areas were evacuated on 8 November. However some were still victims of these attacks.

- PARECO Mayi Mayi intervened to end FARDC lootings in Kirumba: PARECO elements from Kamandi intervened in Kirumba to put an end to the looting of houses and shops in Kirumba. According to local sources 8 FARDC soldiers and 1 PARECO elements were killed during these clashes. According to the same sources, 2 civilians were also killed attacks and 4 other were injured. The residents of Bulotwa, Kayna, Kirumba, Mighobwe and Kaseghe fled their villages to seek refuge into the forests. Some returns were reported this afternoon.

Population Movements

Rutshuru

- 3 881 families arrived to Kisharu from Rutshuru, Kiwanja, Rugari. They are staying with host families, in schools, churches and public warehouses near the market.

Minova (South Kivu)

- IRC-RRM and World Vision teams are in Minova to assess the situation and harmonize the methodology for the registration of IDPs. The registrations should begin on 13 November. Meanwhile, ICRC finalised a similar assessment in the Kalungu-Chebumba axes, the Haut Plateaux, Nyabibwe and the peninsula of Kitembo.

Gaps

Health

- Cholera continues to spread in Minova: 108 cases were registered during week 44 (compared to 62 registered during week 43). Since 10 November, a team composed by the Provincial Minister for Health, Provincial health inspection, IPS, WHO and World Vision are in Minova to ensure a prompt response to the epidemic.

- UNICEF and its partners are doing everything possible to control cholera from spreading in accessible areas (Kibati, Mugunga, etc.) with several truckloads of clean water daily (5L/person/day), dozens of water purification posts, hundreds of additional latrines (240 in Kibati), and hygiene promotion; oral rehydration solution and other medicine is being given to cholera patients in three cholera treatment centers in and around Goma

Assistance

NFI

- Two planeloads donated by the UK with thousands of plastic sheets, buckets, and blankets arrived in Goma today, making it 6 in total in the last 3 days; distribution of the materials to thousands of internally displaced persons is being coordinated with RRM partners Solidarites and IRC for the coming days

- World Vision will distribute 4 000 NFI kits to displaced and host families. 900 kits have already been distributed in Shasha and 300 in Minova.

Santé

- Measles vaccinations activities for 9,000 children on the Sake-Kirotshe-Minova road continues; the vaccinations for 13,000 children, suspended last Friday due t the fighting, will resume tomorrow in Kibati. UNICEF will vaccinate up to 66,000 children in the coming days/weeks

- There are 5 suspected cases of cholera in Kibati. IMC and MSF-H are treating the patients. IMC and MSF-H also reported 2 new cases admitted in the General Hospital (HGR) of Virunga in Goma, 9 in the Rutshuru Hospital, 12 in the area of Chambucha (Walikale). WHO provided IMC with 500 liters of ringer lactate in the area of Chambucha and the health zone of Karisimbi.

Measles: 6 new cases were reported to General Hospital (HGR) of Masisi

- SC UK set uot a mobile clinic to support IMC in Kibati.

Protection

- The CPIA meeting yesterday has discussed about the safety of IDPs in Kibati camp. The prevailing and worrying security situation and the proximity of the front line are major concern to the CPIA. The meeting has recommended that the IDPs be moved to another site. The Mugunga 3 contingency camps need to be prepared urgently for that. Considering the physical situation of the site it requires heavy machinery for the site clearing and the opening of the access and internal roads. The Office is looking into any possibility to start the work as soon as possible. MONUC has been approached for the heavy machines

- SC UK distributed food and NFI to 122 unaccompanied children in Kibati and assisted 22 host families of children associated with armed groups: 5 families in Rutshuru and 17 in Goma

Coordination

- Inter-agency mission on 11 November in Minova: OCHA, UNICEF, PAM, FAO, HCR, IRC / RRM for South Kivu and OXFAM / QUEBEC and World Vision for North Kivu. Some conclusions from this mission:

- The security situation is overall calm.

- Provincial authorities promised to find another site for the IDPs since they are currently in the plantation site of Mubimbi (a marshy site and a private property).

- NGOs harmonized the methodology for the registration of IDPs which should start this week.

For more information, visit our humanitarian website: http://www.rdc-humanitaire.net

Contacts:

- Christophe Illemassene, Information Manager, OCHA RDC, illemassene@un.org, Tél.: +243 819 889 195

- Ivo Brandau, Chargé d'information OCHA-RDC, brandau@un.org, Tél. : + 243 815 142 956

- Noel Tsekouras, Desk Officer OCHA New York, tsekouras@un.org, Tél.: + 1 917 367 93 67