DR Congo: OCHA Humanitarian Situation Update No. 12 - North Kivu, 13 Nov 2008

- Lootings continue in South Lubero

- 2 000 persons crossed the border into Uganda bringing the total number of refugees to 12 000

- Cases of cholera have tripled in Goma's health zone since October.

Political and Security Context

- According to sources in Kirumba and Kanyabayonga, FARDC, PARECO elements and robbers ransacked both cities at night from 12 -13 November. Two persons were killed in their homes in Kirumba and Kanyabayonga was once again deserted. The Military Police asserts having arrested 18 militaries the same night.

- Rwindi, Kibirizi, Mirangi localities, located respectively in 20 km, 17 km and 10 km from Kanyabayonga (South Lubero) are under the control of CNDP.

Population Movements

In Uganda

- According to UNHCR, approximately 2 000 Congolese have crossed into Uganda this morning, from Ishasha, in the region of Kanungu. This brings the total number of Congolese refugees in Uganda to 12 000. Yesterday, shortly after their arrival, a group of 956 persons were transferred to Nakivale where a camp had been set up. Two transit centers are fully operational and ready to receive the refugees before their transfer to Nakivale on voluntary grounds. They received kitchen kits, buckets, plastic sheeting, seeds and agricultural tools. The Red Cross in Kisoro registered new refugees who want to go to Nakivale.

- MSF, MERLIN, WHO and UNHCR made health assessments on border and in Nakivale.

Grand Nord

- About 200 families from Kanyabayonga found shelter since 11 November near MONUC's base in the city.

- 738 families from Kiwandja are in Kamandi, according to the humanitarian organizations in Lubero. Moreover, displacements of populations continue towards Lubero, Butembo and Beni. 825 displaced families reached Butembo, according to the NGO MAD.

- 265 displaced families from Ituri arrived in Eringeti, according to NGO CAD.

Minova (South Kivu)

- ICRC, IRC / RRM, World Vision and Malteser have started the registration of IDPs. Lists will be available on 16 November.

- There are an estimated 1 500 displaced families in the "plateaux" of Kalehe. ICRC will start their registration next week.

Gaps

Nutrition

- According to the sub-Cluster Health and Nutrition, there is an increase in the number of children admitted in the nutritional units in the health district of Butembo after WFP food stocks run out since in September. The situation should be the same in the health district of Beni.

Protection

- Thirty ex combatant children staying at CTO of Caritas in Kanyabayonga are concerned about their safety. MONUC / PE will examine the possibility of evacuating these children to Beni where they could be assisted by Save the Children-UK.

Health

- During it assessment in Eringeti on 11 November, World Vision International was informed that the health centers ran out of drug stocks.

- In Minova, where 117 cases of cholera were recorded last week against 108 the previous week, the sensitization around the chlorination posts needs to be reinforced.

Assistance

Education

- Back to School Campaign. Due to the lack of access to the Grand Nord, UNICEF plans to send school kits to students via Uganda and Rwanda. The distribution should occur next week.

- UNICEF met with the local education authorities in Kibati on 12 November to find a solution for the resumption of courses and the evacuation of IDPs who are currently living in the classrooms with the support of the community.

Health

- 997 cases of cholera have been recorded in North-Kivu since October; with 150 new cases this month. This represents a tripling among the cases in comparison to same period in the previous month. WHO expressed its concern regarding this situation, given that in the case of a complex emergency, mortality rate can exceed 30 %. In Minova, 371 cases were reported.

- Next Saturday, WHO will send 60 tons of drugs from Kampala to Goma. This includes oral rehydration serums (SRO), injectable products and some antibiotics.

- Care International, in partnership with MERLIN, is building a Cholera Treatment Unit (CTU). Work began on 10 November and the unit will be operational starting 17 November. Serious cases will be referred to the general hospital of Goma.

- The Health Zone's partial epidemiological data for Masisi mentioned an increase in the cases of measles during week 45. 29 of these 31 cases are children under 5. Save the Children-UK will organize an accelerated vaccination campaign in 10 health centers among the 31 centers of the Health Zone.

Food Security:

- Caritas Goma will proceed on 14 November with the distribution of WFP food to IDPs in Kiwandja and Rutshuru Centre for approximately It is estimated that 20 000 families (13 000 to Kiwandja and 7 000 to Rutshuru). The registration started on 12 November. The prospects of this distribution pushed those who had settled around the MONUC base in Kiwanja to disassemble their tents and return to their houses. The needs assessment takes into account all IDPs and returned civilians in Rutshuru territory. After Rutshuru center, Caritas continued its assessment in the localities of Karambi and Ntamugenga. Today Caritas also started the identification of the IDPs in Goma with the aim of distributing WFP food on 14 November.

- The WFP continues to receive food from Tanzania, Zambia and Uganda. They also expect to receive flour from Rwanda.

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

- 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