ReliefWeb

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is impacted by sporadic security-related incidents as reported in various territories and provinces around the country. From June to September 2017, there were more than 250 security incidents in 170 locations, featuring conflicts and over land control and exactions against civilians, which resulted in more than 900 casualties. In this insecure environment, humanitarian actors need to ensure acceptance of communities and risk-adapted programming to continue delivering assistance to people in need. Meanwhile, the primary responsibility for the protection and assistance to the Congolese population remains with the national authorities and security forces, with support from their international partners.

In the Kasai region, humanitarian access is not currently a major issue, as security constraints can be overcome through effective communication with communities and relevant contacts with security actors. However, tensions remain in some areas, with six security related incidents reported from June to September 2017, including three incidents in the Kasai Province, four in the Kasai Central Province, and two in the Kasai Oriental Province. Although these incidents did not specifically target or impact humanitarian actors and activities, they contributed to maintaining a strong perception of insecurity, while 62 humanitarian projects are being implemented in the region. Areas where security constraints to humanitarian access were the most important in August are located in the Province of Kasai Central: Yangala health zone (Luiza territory); some parts of Bilomba health zone (Kazumba territory),
Ndemba-Dimbelenge road (Demba territory), KatendeLubunga road (Dimbelege territory). In the Province of Kasai, improvements in security are reported around Tshikapa, which results in returns of displaced population and less constraints to humanitarian access.

In the Kasai region, humanitarian access is not currently a major issue, as security constraints can be overcome through effective communication with communities and relevant contacts with security actors. However, tensions remain in some areas, with six security related incidents reported from June to September 2017, including three incidents in the Kasai Province, four in the Kasai Central Province, and two in the Kasai Oriental Province. Although these incidents did not specifically target or impact humanitarian actors and activities, they contributed to maintaining a strong perception of insecurity, while 62 humanitarian projects are being implemented in the region. Areas where security constraints to humanitarian access were the most important in August are located in the Province of Kasai Central: Yangala health zone (Luiza territory); some parts of Bilomba health zone (Kazumba territory),
Ndemba-Dimbelenge road (Demba territory), KatendeLubunga road (Dimbelege territory). In the Province of Kasai, improvements in security are reported around Tshikapa, which results in returns of displaced population and less constraints to humanitarian access.

The Province of North Kivu is by far the most affected by security-related incidents in the whole country. 70 securityrelated incidents were reported in 52 unique locations from June toSeptember: 19 incidents in June, 21 in July, 17 in August and 13 in September. Insecurity has a negative impact for humanitarian actors to reach people in need, in a context where 237 humanitarian projects are currently being implemented in the province. As a consequence of insecurity leading to access constraints, almost 329,000 people are at risk of receiving no or delayed assistance.