Major Developments
- On Friday 07/11/08 shooting erupted between FARDC and CNDP close to Kibati IDP settlement 15kms north of Goma; more than 50,000 people started heading towards Goma but returned when the shooting stopped; Goma and surrounding areas are tense; as of Saturday 08/11/08, the fighting had moved north and the frontline between CNDP and FARDC is now north of Kibati in Kibumba.
- Fighting occurred between CNDP and Mayi Mayi in Nyanzale and Kikuku on Thursday 06/11/08; CNDP reportedly now holds the strategic town of Nyanzale; the status of Kikuku is unknown; thousands of people have reportedly fled.the area.
- There was heavy fighting between the CNDP and Mayi Mayi in Kiwanja/Rutshuru on Wednesday 05/11/08 afternoon; reports of civilian killings are being investigated; local Red Cross is reporting that at least 60 bodies have been identified;
Humanitarian situation
- On Friday 07/11/08 humanitarian operations in Kibati were suspended after shooting could be heard nearby. The operations included a UNICEF measles vaccination for 13,000 children; UNICEF-supported activities such as water trucking and latrine construction with Mercy Corps and separated children identification and tracing with Save the Children were temporarily suspended, but resumed on Saturday 08/11/08; there is no humanitarian access to Rutshuru territory, however organizations are able to work in Masisi and Lubero territories
- Cases of cholera are increasing in nearly all displacement areas, in some areas such as the Mugunga camps west of Goma cases of cholera have doubled in the last week; high risk of further cholera outbreaks in Rutshuru territory due to lack of access; 25 cases of measles reported in Mweso in Masisi territory;
- UNICEF and OCHA continue coordinating with RRM partners Solidarités and IRC to carry out assessments in the core RRM areas of water and sanitation, education, and NFI/emergency shelter; an IRC/RRM team has left for the Ishasha-Nyamilima area via Uganda; IRC was conducting emergency education activities in this areas through the RRM programme.; Solidarités/RRM is helping with IDP registrations in the Kanyabayonga area.
UNICEF Response
Nutrition/Health
- On Friday 07/11/08 UNICEF temporarily suspended an emergency measles vaccination of 13,000 displaced children in Kibati due to shooting in the area; vaccination activities will resume as soon as security allows.
- Preparations are underway for an emergency measles vaccination in the Sake-Bweremana-Minova area; UNICEF is planning emergency measles vaccination and Vitamin A supplements for 86,000 children in the coming weeks.
- UNICEF's partner, COOPI, completed a rapid nutritional screening in the Kibati camps on Thursday 06/11/08. Results are being analyzed to help determine the need for further nutritional activities.
- UNICEF is providing essential cholera treatment supplies such as Oral Rehydration Salts and ringer lactate to international health NGOs who are setting up or reinforcing cholera treatment centers in affected areas
Water/Sanitation
- Water-trucking and latrine construction activities in the Kibati camps and to Rutshuru town were also suspended due to fighting in these areas on 07/11/08, but resumed on 08/11/08; RRM partner, Solidarités continues water trucking to Kanyabayonga for an estimated 45,000 IDPs and host community members.
Non-Food Items/Emergency Shelter Materials
- UNICEF is providing tents to some of the public sites hosting IDPs in Goma town including the largest group of 1,300 IDPs at the Don Bosco center.
- NFI, including blankets, tarpaulins, jerry-cans, and clothing, donated by Memisa Belgium with transport facilitated by the Government of Belgium, has begun arriving in Goma; distribution will be coordinated through the NFI cluster. Protection
- UNICEF partner Save the Children has opened an additional point d'ecoute (listening points) in Kanyabayong to facilitate the identification and family tracing of new unaccompanied minors. To date some 40 unaccompanied children have been identified in the Kanyabayong and Kayn areas; Save the Children's local partner has resumed separated children identification and tracing activities in Kibati.
Education
- All schools remain closed in Rutshuru territory; some schools are open in Masisi territory where UNICEF is planning its Back to School campaign with school supply distributions; as access opens up, RRM teams will begin re-establishing emergency classroom spaces in IDP areas.