By Natlaia Cieslik
Los Angeles, September 20, 2007 - International Medical Corps (IMC) is providing life-saving health care to thousands of displaced people in North Kivu, located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Heavy fighting between rebel forces and the Congolese military in the eastern district of Masisi has created a large exodus of civilians. About 14,000 families have settled in makeshift camps on petrified lava fields in the Mugunga, Bulengo, and Munigi camps, a few miles from the city of Goma. IMC responded swiftly to the unfolding humanitarian crisis by dispatching personnel, drugs, vehicles, and equipment, working closely with local authorities, UNHCR, and other partner agencies.
International Medical Corps health workers are seeing between 300 and 500 patients a day. Many of them suffer from diarrhea, malaria, worm infestation, respiratory infections, and severe dehydration. Infants seem to be worst affected and many show signs of malnutrition. Out of 1,200 children screened by IMC within the first two days of operation, 50 were severely malnourished.
"The fighting has taken a large toll on the health of the displaced and the children are starving," says Birame Sarr, International Medical Corps Country Director in DRC. "Because of our longstanding cooperation with local health authorities and other partners we are now well positioned to respond to the needs of the people."
International Medical Corps is providing transport to the most critical cases (four to five per day) that are referred to nearby hospitals and is currently rehabilitating three health centers that will be both a feeding post and clinic for internally displaced people (IDPs). IMC has also participated in a joint vaccination campaign, together with North Kivu provincial health authorities, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization against measles and tetanus for 22,000 children and 2,000 pregnant women.
Local and international aid agencies have registered more than 7,000 new families in areas surrounding the disputed region. But there are reports of more displaced in parts that are not reachable to humanitarian workers as a result of the tense security situation. International Medical Corps is working with the North Kivu health authorities and other partner to provide support to existing public health centers located near the camps and other areas of IDP concentration.
International Medical Corps has been working in DRC since 1999 in close cooperation with the Ministry of Health and local community members to improve health care, nutrition, food security, education, as well as water and sanitation services. IMC is currently the only international NGO with a long-standing presence in both North and South Kivu provinces. Today IMC, along with its Congolese and international partners, supports eight health district hospitals and 118 health centers, serving more than 850,000 people, 70 percent of whom have displaced by war. IMC provides health services to communities during periods of emergency as well as during peace time.