Congolese authorities have apparently known
for a long time about the cholera problem at the Kapalata military camp
in Kisangani according to an ACP report of January 20. Informed
sources in the health ministry reportedly told ACP that cholera
was detected at the camp in mid-October 1997, when an abnormally high number
of cases of suspicious cholera diarrhea were seen at the camp, which is
home mostly to former Zairean soldiers and Mai-Mai fighters who came over
to the government's side. ACP reported that 1,054 cases were observed during
the period November 19 through December 30, 1997, with 201 deaths. ACP
said that poor drinking water, poor latrine facilities, promiscuity, and
poor food hygiene all contributed to the problem. The health ministry said
it was working with humanitarian aid organizations to correct the
problem and asserted that the risk to the city of Kisangani was "limited."
Indeed, another ACP report of January 20 advised that the vice governor
of Orientale Province said that most of the people of Kisangani are living
in relative calm, indicating that the spread of disease and the flood damage
were not as bad as perhaps we believed. NCN finds this ACP report confusing:
It has been known that the main source
of the cholera outbreak in Orientale was the Kapalata camp, but there have
been reports that indicated that Kisangani and other regions of the country
were threatened by the epidemic:
By late December, Medicins Sans Frontieres
had set up a cholera treatment center in Kisangani to treat a rising number
of cases. On December 29, Dr. Sondji, the health minister, went on
national television to appeal for international help, expressing concerns
about the threat of disease and epidemic.
On January 4 a UNICEF communiqué said that there were 740 people sick with
the disease in Kisangani hospitals.
On January 4, AFP reported that 30 children
had died at the Kapalata camp. On January 5, UNICEF told AFP the number
of cholera related deaths was 211. Perhaps most confusing is an ACP
report of January 8 that indicated that some 6,000 people from the Kisangani
area were evacuated to the Kapalata military camp, which is highly awkward
given that the Government of the DRC knew since mid-October 1997 that the
camp was plagued by cholera-conducive conditions and a cholera outbreak
had overtaken the facility.
On January 17 Reuters reported that
Health Minister Sondji expressed concern that cholera was spreading to
other parts of the country, including the Kitona military camp on the Atlantic
Ocean, a location where former Zairean soldiers were being retrained. Press
reports from the region indicated that damage in Kisangani was extensive:
USAID reported that heavy rains began during the week of December 15 had
caused severe flooding in Kisangani and put a third of the city under water.
On December 27, William Wallis reported
for Reuters that the situation in Kisangani was serious, that 20,000 people
had been forced from their homes, that drinking water was generally unsafe,
and the risk of disease was mounting. Indeed, the central government called
a state of emergency. The Tshopo Dam had burst, and health minister Sondji
was quoted as saying about 1,500 homes were destroyed, some 7,700 people
were homeless, and at least 10,000 people had been affected. Interior
Minister Kongolo and Reconstruction Minister Mbaya visited Kisangani to
assess the flood situation and assured people that this disaster
had the personal attention of President Kabila.
On December 29, UNICEF reported that
major sections of Banalia, Isangi, and Ubundu had been destroyed,
the Kisangani port including the quay were seriously damaged,
a textile factory had to be shut down, many homes were destroyed
and people were evacuating. A UNICEF report of January 6 indicated
that some 1,495 homes were destroyed leaving 7,726 people
homeless.
ACP reported on January 8 that a disaster
crisis team was set up by Mr. Rigobert Mupondo from the ministry of the
interior to coordinate actions to respond to the flood disaster in the
Kisangani region that began in December. Indeed visits were made to the
region
UNICEF shipped 13 tons of flood relief
supplies to the region in January. A reporter for the Mail and Guardian
reported on January 17 that the situation in Kisangani was "pathetic,"
with the worst hit regions being Banalia, Isangi, and Ubundu all in the
Kisangani region.
The provincial governor on or about
January 17 advised that the flooding was the worst since 1963, having washed
away nearly 10,000 homes.The BBC, Reuters and the Wall Street Journal all
carried stories on January 20 and 21 about Kinshasa police authorities
arresting opposition leader Joseph Olenghankoy following a police raid
on his political party headquarters. The AP-Dow Jones News Service reported
that this is Mr. Olenghankoy's second arrest in three months. The wire
service said that Mr. Joseph Olenghankoy, is the chief of the Innovative
Forces for Union and Solidarity and that he was "seized by eight soldiers
who burst into his office as two vehicles of uniformed men waited outside
the building." Mr. Olenghankoy is a familiar name to people who watch
Congolese politics. His is certainly a name familiar to NCN. Therefore,
NCN took a quick look at its data base and wasreminded of the following:
During the ADFL rebellion, Mr. Olenghankoy
servedas the leader of Zaire's parliament and leader ofFONUS, Forces Novatrices
pour l'Union et la Solidarite. In February 1997, prior to the fall
of Kisangani, Mr. Olenghankoy issued a communiqué calling for a nation-wide
strike to protest the Mobutu regime. Such a strike, known as Ville
Mort, or Dead City Day, was held in Kinshasa on February 10, demanding
the ouster of Prime Minister Kengo. The Kengo Government responded by arresting
parliamentary members. In mid-March, the UN reported that there was a considerable
amount of "coalition activity" between the ADFL and the political
opposition and other organizations from throughout Zaire, and reported
that Mr. Olenghankoy was out of the country meeting with ADFL officials
to coordinate plans and strategies for ending the Mobutu dictatorship.
In late July 1997, Mr. Olenghankoy warned his new government, by
this time headed by President Kabila, that many former Zairean soldiers,
Mobutu loyalists, and Rwandan Hutu militia were assembling in the Central
African Republic threatening the newly formed DRC. Then, in repayment
for this, Mr. Olenghankoy was arrested by Kabila government authorities
without warrant and without explanation. Once again, he has been
arrested on January 20, once again without explanation.
The AP-Dow Jones News Service reported
on January 20 that UN spokesman Fred Eckhard told reporters in New York
that Secretary-General Kofi Annan "is getting impatient about the
lack of progress by the (UN massacre) investigative team in the Congo."
The principle problem now is that no point of contact has been designated
by the Kabila government for the UN and the Kabila government appears to
be stonewalling appointing one. The Dow Jones service advised that American
cooperation with the Kabilagovernment as a result of this kind of government
attitude will be largely symbolic until this matter is resolved.
ACP reported on January 20 that Congolese
President Kabila has called on the international community to participate
in the reconstruction of the country. Mr. Kabila asked the international
community to make note of the government's objectives and plans, and to
take note of the manner in which the new government has ended its diplomatic
isolation and sought to instill peace and stability in the region. Mr.
Kabila reiterated his intent to organize free elections and reestablish
fundamental human rights and liberties. Mr. Kabila's remarks were apparently
made during a formal ceremony with the diplomatic delegation in Kinshasa.
Interestingly, ACP followed this report with a series of brief reports
demonstrating how Western ambassadors were lining up behind the Kabila
government:
ACP reported that Great Britain's ambassador
to Kinshasa, Mr. Marcus Hope, reassured Mr. Kabila that Great Britain will
deepen its relationship with the DRC and assist in the country's reconstruction.
Ambassador Hope reportedly also assured Mr. Kabila that Great Britain
would support the DRC before the European Union (EU). Britain's ambassador
reportedly also invited Foreign Minister Karaha to visit London this
month. ACP reported that Dr. Sondji, the minister of health, has
been invited to visit Canada by Canada's new ambassador to Kinshasa, Mrs.
Verona Edelstein. In yet another report from ACP on January 20, the
American ambassador to Kinshasa, Mr. Daniel Simpson, was quoted as saying
that the Clinton administration appreciates its cooperation with the Kabila
government. Ambassador Simpson reportedly said that the American government
was in permanent dialog with the DRC government, and, that if the relationship
continues to develop, the levels of assistance provided by the United States
would increase. Ambassador Simpson reportedly said that American investment
would focus on the rehabilitation of road infrastructure through the U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID), which has recently opened
an office in Bukavu. Mr. Simpson reportedly stressed that the main solution
to the problems in the Great Lakes is economic development.
Finally, ACP also reported that Mr.
Petro Baliero, Italy's ambassador to Kinshasa, visited with the governor
of South Kivu to explore areas of potential cooperation. Mr. Baliero reportedly
underlined the need for economic development, and offered that Italy could
be helpful in the areas of road construction, small enterprises, and textiles.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in
the documents carried by this site are those of the authors and are not
necessarily shared by UNDHA or the ReliefWeb secretariat.
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