DR Congo: OCHA Humanitarian Situation Update No. 15 - North Kivu, 20 - 21 Nov 2008

- FARDC soldiers looted the Kibati IDP camp. A young woman was killed.

- The United Nations Security Council approved the increase of MONUC's force by 3085 additional elements.

- 10 000 IDP families left the Kiwanja IDP camp fearing an attack by armed men.

- Harassment against humanitarians. Two humanitarian vehicles were confiscated in the last two days by militaries.

Political and Security Context

- FARDC elements ransacked the Kibati I camp on 12 November at 1am. A 20 year old woman was killed. This situation provoked panic among the IDPs, causing many families to flee and abandon their shelter. An evaluation of the situation is in progress. There is a fear that if hostilities resume the displaced will be caught between fire.

- On 20 November, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution authorizing the increase in the number of military personnel for MONUC by 2 785 militaries and 300 policemen. The purpose of this decision is to reinforce MONUC's capacity to protect civilians and to reconfigure and deploy its force.

- According to UNICEF, the Kayna Hospital was looted on 20 December by FARDC. UNDSS has also reported the looting of Kibrizi on 20 November by CNDP.

- CNDP and Mayi Mayi had a brief exchange of fire on 20 November in Katoro, 3km from the west of Kiwanja. Both parties also exchanged fire yesterday in Kinyadoni.

- Mrs. Soraya Rodriguez, Spanish Minister for International Cooperation arrived in Goma on 20 November. She visited the Kibati IDP camp and met with the humanitarian organizations during an Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) meeting organized by OCHA in Goma. The meeting focused on the humanitarian situation in North Kivu. Mrs. Rodriguez seized the opportunity to announce an additional contribution of 5 million EUR from her country. This will bring Spain's total contribution to the DRC for the year to 30 million euros.

- The Norwegian Minister for Development arrived on 21 November and visited the Mugunga II IDP camp. He then met up with the humanitarian partners.

Access

- Binza, in Rutshuru territory, is inaccessible due to the presence of Mayi Mayi and other armed groups.

- The South Lubero region is inaccessible due to the presence of uncontrollable armed elements in the Alimbongo and Kitsumbiro areas.

Population Movements

Grand Nord

- Since 29 October, 1 770 displaced families have been registered in Butembo.

- 612 displaced families, among which 146 have sick members, were registered in Lubero.

Rutshuru Territory

- After rumors of a possible attack by an armed group against the Kiwanja transit camp, 10 000 displaced families fled towards Rutshuru.

- 1 700 displaced families are in Ishasha: 1 555 are with host families and the rest are in public areas.

- 316 displaced families are in Nyakakoma, where 260 are staying with host families.

Uganda

- The influx of Congolese to Uganda has slowed down. According to UNHCR, 13 000 Congolese have crossed the Ugandan borders since August. From this figure, only 6 400 accepted to go to the Nakivale camp where there are currently 28 000 Congolese refugees.

Gaps

Health

- Cases of cholera were reported in Ishasha and Nyakoma after the Nyakoma Health Center ran out of medical supplies.

- 8 new cases of cholera (non fatal) were registered on 20 November in Rutshuru.

- Due to poor access conditions, insecurity and multiple road blocks placed FARDC, the health structures of South Lubero ran out of medical supplies.

Food/NFI

- The displaced families in Butembo are in need of food and NFI.

Watsan

- The displaced families in Butembo need water and sanitation support.

- There is a water supply problem for IDPs in Goma's public sites. For now, the Water and Sanitation Cluster does not plan water trucking activities. Discussions are ongoing to find solution to the problem.

Assistance

Food

- In preparation for a future food distribution, WFP has stored 100 tons of food in MONUC's Rutshuru base.

Education

- On 21 November, UNICEF began a student registration operation and distribution within schools along the Kibati axis: 988 students of which 145 are displaced and 12 teachers benefited from basic supplies which would allow the lessons to resume. The same operation (registration and distribution) is envisaged this Saturday for the school in Mutaho.

- UNICEF plans to organize a meeting with UNHCR and ICRC to discuss the issue of IDPs who occupy schools and their transfer to Mugunga III in order to allow a resumption of scholastic activities. The militaries who occupy the school in Kayembe as well as in Mutaho left. In contrast, CNDP troops are always in the school in Kanyanja.

- UNICEF evaluated the hosting capacity within the schools that are next to the Mugunga III site. A school "catch up" center and an alphabetizing center will be established for "descholarized" students and illiterate adolescents. The sensitization campaign for inscriptions will begin 24 November.

Health/Nutrition

- MERLIN has provided a medical kit at the General Hospital of Lubero to support IDPs in need of health care. Another kit was shared between 3 health areas in Butembo where there is a concentration of IDPs.

- WHO offered software for epidemiological analysis to the Provincial Health Inspection to facilitate the interpretation of data and to direct the epidemiological response.

Mission

- On 21 November, the Health, Logistic and Protection Clusters did a joint evaluation mission in Rutshuru. The results of this evaluation should be released soon.

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