At its weekly press conference of 15 April 2009, MONUC said that two joint DRC Armed Forces (FARDC) / MONUC coordination centres were set up in Sake and Kiwanja in North Kivu, within the framework of the wider mission support to the FARDC in eastern DRC.
According to MONUC Spokesman Madnodje Mounoubai, the security situation in North Kivu is characterised by the continuation of the activities of troops of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), who continue to attack the FARDC, civilians and MONUC forces. Hotspots with isolated incidents continue to be reported around the areas of Kashebere, Nyabiondo and Kiwanja.
In the light of all these incidents, MONUC forces and the FARDC met six times last week for coordination activities within the framework of operation Kimia 2, which led to the setting up of the two joint FARDC/MONUC coordination centres in Sake and Kiwanja respectively.
The two parties appointed their respective commanders for the two coordination centres, as well as for the operational sectors. MONUC and FARDC commanders will also be designated at brigade level.
MONUC forces continue their support to the FARDC, who profited last week from three reconnaissance air missions by MONUC planes. In addition, over a 10 day period MONUC forces provided 7,700 rations per day and a total of 1,500 litres of fuel to the FARDC.
Concerning the return of Rwandan ex-combatants, Mr. Mounoubai confirmed that up to 14 April 2009, 752 ex-combatants and 1,016 of their dependents were repatriated by MONUC through its programme of Disarmament, Demobilisation, Repatriation, Resettlement and Reintegration (DDRRR). 33 people are also waiting in transit camps.
UNHCR has repatriated 5,026 refugees from the DRC to Rwanda, so the total number repatriated to Rwanda by the United Nations since 1 January 2009 amounts to 6,794.
In Ituri district since 11 April last, a joint MONUC/FARDC operation has been launched against residual elements of the FRPI rebels in the southern part of Irumu territory. The objective is to dislodge them from the localities which they control, and to put an end to the exactions which they make on civilians. Already, FRPI strongholds such as Poto Poto and Kanama have fallen.
It was also announced during the conference that Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Representative to the UN Secretary General for children in armed conflict is on official visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo from 14-21 April 2009, at the invitation of the Congolese Government.
In addition to Kinshasa she will visit Goma and Masisi in North Kivu, Bukavu in South Kivu and Dungu in Haut Uele district in northern DRC.
The objective of the visit is to evaluate the situation of children in the DRC and to facilitate collaboration between the various actors, in order to ensure a greater protection of children amid the humanitarian crisis in progress in the DRC.
Ms. Coomaraswamy will pay close attention to the situation of children associated with armed groups, child victims of sexual violence, displaced and refugee children as well as the issue of impunity for crimes committed against children.