Attachments
HIGHLIGHTS
- Since 23 January, the security and humanitarian situation in South Kivu and North Kivu provinces in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) rapidly declined However, relative calm has been observed in Goma since 28 January, although isolated skirmishes continue to be reported in the city and its surroundings. In the lead-up to the crisis, UNHCR issued two briefing notes on 17 January and 24 January.
- Reports from Goma and surrounding areas indicate significant civilian casualties, violations of International Humanitarian Law, and large-scale forced displacement. Humanitarian operations have been severely impacted by the violence. Various humanitarian warehouses in the city have reportedly been looted, and programmes face significant disruption.
- The humanitarian situation in the eastern DRC continues to be very worrying. Humanitarian agencies do not have access to displaced populations in and around Goma due to the deteriorating security situation. With no electricity, water, or connectivity, the situation is becoming very dire.
- UNHCR reiterates the calls for humanitarian access and for the safety of civilians, including aid workers, to be respected. We also call for the right to seek asylum to be upheld and for civilians to be allowed to move to safer areas.
- There are very small numbers of new arrivals of people seeking asylum in neighbouring countries so far.
- UNHCR is working with governments and partners in neighbouring DRC countries to update interagency contingency plans and stands ready to support any new arrivals from the latest crisis, including the nearly 600 people who have requested asylum in Rwanda UNHCR in recent days.
- On 28 January, protests erupted in the capital, Kinshasa, following developments in Goma, with key installations, including premises linked to the international community, being targeted.
- Prior to recent development, The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) faced one of the largest displacement crises in Africa, with 6.7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), including 4.6 million in South and North Kivu. The country also hosts over 520,000 refugees and asylum seekers from neighbouring countries, while 1.1 million Congolese refugees were hosted in neighbouring countries in the region, more than half of them in Uganda. The recent surge in violence has internally displaced over half a million people since the beginning of the year.