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Humanitarian Situation in DRC Monthly Update Jul 2004


This report does not necessarily reflect the official position of the United Nations.
OVERVIEW

Large scale conflicts for the month of July took place in Mahagi Territory, Ituri District and the Kalehe region, South-Kivu Province. 70,000 to 110,000 civilians have been newly displaced by fighting in these two regions alone during this month.

In Mahagi Territory, 35,000 people were estimated displaced1 by fighting which took place over the course of three weeks this month between the FAPC2 and FNI3. According to the conclusions of two interagency missions led by OCHA on 17 and 22 July, the 35,000 affected populations were scattered throughout Mahagi Territory, while others crossed over into neighbouring Uganda.

Further south in the Kivus, escalating tension between insurgent leader Laurent Nkunda and the government's military commander of the 10th military region4, Mbuza Mabe, led to fighting which reportedly broke out on 22 July along the front line5 running parallel to the north of Kalehe, in South-Kivu Province. As a result, 30,000 people were estimated displaced east towards Lake Kivu while another 5,000 civilians (essentially Rwandan speaking) reportedly fled west towards the High Plains of that region following Nkunda's troops who had withdrawn in the same direction.

Military exactions and rapes against women were reported throughout the conflict zones.

By the end of the month, the situation in the Kivus was still fluid.

On the political front, 8 members of the National Parliament from the RCD movement withdrew and returned to the RCD fiefdom of Goma.

To complicate matters, a concentration of Interahamwe/FDLR troops was reported in the Ruzizi plain, South-Kivu at the end of the month. According to MONUC, two battalions crossed the border into Burundi.

The ongoing problem of Mayi-Mayi integration into the national army in Katanga Province is still a cause for concern. Mayi-Mayi leader Tango Fort, who operates in the Kalemie zone, continued leading his parallel military structure. Forced recruitment of minors was also reported.

As for the rest of the country, the situation was relatively calm this month.

PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS

In flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and human rights principles, war crimes continue to be carried out by both renegade armed groups and the national army throughout the Democratic Republic of Congo. Violations of the right to life, physical integrity, freedom of movement and property continue to be systematically violated by those in positions of power while impunity reigns unchecked.

The following points related to the protection of civilians were highlighted this month by OCHA field offices:

South-Kivu Province: Security and the protection of IDPs in the territory of Kalehe were of real concern. Reports of massacres of Banyamulenge and Bahutu communities in Kalehe could not be confirmed by MONUC/Human Rights teams, however. Most, if not all, civilians of these ethnic groups were thought to have fled west towards the high plains region or north of Kalehe to seek protection from Nkunda's troops. 221 women had reported being raped in the Kalehe zone, according to local sources6. At the end of the month, MONUC was planning another assessment in order to meet with the Congolese of Rwandan expression in the high plains of Kalehe.

Maniema Province: Military and administrative harassment of the population and the humanitarian NGOs (mainly local) was reported taking place throughout the province this month.

POPULATION MOVEMENTS

Table of IDPs and Returnees in DRC
As of August 2004*
Provinces
Displaced
Returns
Date of Information
Katanga
365,000
190,000
August 2004
Province Orientale
455,000
260,000
August 2004
Maniema
165,000
August 2004
Nord Kivu
785,000
August 2004
Sud Kivu
254,000
275,000
August 2004
Equateur
165,000
August 2004
Kinshasa 45,000 (includes +/- 3,000 expellees from Angola) August 2003 for the IDPs and June 2004 for the expellees.
Bandundu
Bas Congo
East and West Kasai 95,000 (includes +/- 40,000 expellees from Angola) August 2004
TOTAL
2,329,000
725,000
August 2004
*These figures are estimations representing a consolidation of data furnished by provincial commissions on Population Movements as well as reports of various evaluation missions.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE / UNMET HUMANITARIAN NEEDS

One of the major unmet humanitarian needs in the Democratic Republic of Congo remains the lack of operational capacity to assist an enormous vulnerable population living throughout a vast and difficult to access terrain. There are currently only 95 international NGOs and representatives from the Red Cross Movement implementing programs in a country with millions of affected populations spread throughout 2.3 million km² (a region 213 times the size of Kosovo, 86 times the size of Burundi, and 24 times the size of Liberia). Due to this shortage of operational partners, when humanitarian assistance does arrive in favour of vulnerable groups, like newly displaced persons or returnees, it rarely meets international standards, such as those outlined in the Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (SPHERE Project).

In a context where information is often lacking due to the absence or limited presence of humanitarian partners, clearly defining all unmet humanitarian needs in a country like DRC is a daunting task. There are even some regions, like Bas-Uele and Haut-Uele Districts, Orientale Province (together 2 times the size of Liberia), where vulnerable populations have never benefited from humanitarian assistance because of the reduced presence of humanitarian partners. Another major problem inhibiting the identification of humanitarian needs and the implementation of assistance programs in war torn zones is the absence of a road infrastructure, particularly in the provinces of Maniema, South-Kivu, Orientale, the two Kasais and Equateur.

In one of this month's flash point zones, Mahagi Territory, Ituri District, OCHA reported that medical supplies, food, shelter, blankets, drinking water, and sanitation were urgently needed for the 35,000 newly affected populations. The humanitarian community in Bunia was researching ways to address the urgent unmet needs of IDPs in Mahagi. According to one INGO already working in that region, the main constraint was insecurity which was preventing staff from having regular access to affected populations. OCHA recommended that MONUC provide security to humanitarian actors as well as the protection of civilian populations in Mahagi.

In Kalehe, South-Kivu Province, where some 30,000 people have been affected by the recent fighting, shelter, food, medicines, wat/san and SGBV assistance were initially reported as the primary needs. Humanitarian assistance into the affected regions is only possible by air or by water and therefore, reaching vulnerable groups with humanitarian assistance is logistically challenging.

By the end of the month, humanitarian interventions had begun in Kalehe. OCHA reported that most of the emergency needs were expected be covered; however, unmet needs were being reported in assistance to sexual violence victims and to primary health care. A meeting was held on July 27 at OCHA offices to define who is doing what and where and to identify potential partners to fill gaps in assistance.

In other zones experiencing either protracted emergencies and/or crises dating back before July, the following humanitarian needs and assistance programs were highlighted by OCHA offices this month (Not an exhaustive list. For more detailed information, please refer to OCHA DRC's weekly Monitoring report):

- INGO SC (UK) finished its NFI distribution to 1000 families in Kamanyola while INGO World Vision started the identification of 2000 additional families for NFI assistance. The caseloads for WFP, FAO and UNICEF were as follows: 5,000 families targeted for food and agricultural tools and 2,000 families for NFI assistance. INGO Malteser was still distributing essential drugs in the health area they support (Walungu and Nyangezi) and food for the Therapeutic Feeding Center (TFC). OCHA reported that there was still a problem in the delivery of WFP food stocks to Kamanyola, in South-Kivu Province. INGO World Vision uncovered discrepancies in the beneficiary distribution lists.

- IDPs in the Kikyo camp, Lubero (North-Kivu Province) were reported this month in need of food supplies and medical assistance.

- OCHA reported that IDPs living along the Beni-Oicha-Eringeti-Luna axis (North-Kivu Province) were still in need of NFI assistance.

- According to INGO Oxfam (UK), civilian populations living in Nyankunde, Ituri District need nutritional and educational assistance.

- ICRC and Caritas were reported this month assisting the most vulnerable families' which were victims of the previous month's lootings in Bukavu, South-Kivu Province.

COORDINATION / ADVOCACY / ACCESS

OCHA and partners undertook approximately 11 joint humanitarian assessment missions this month throughout DRC. Missions where undertaken to the following localities:

North-Kivu Province: Kasugho, Musienene axis, Muhangi (Lubero Territory)

Province Orientale: Ituri District: Mahagi town (Mahagi Territory); Ndrele, Alyeko, Draju, Ngote, Vida and Luga (Mahagi Territory); Mabanga (Irumu Territory); Mahagi Territory; Aru (Aru Territory) / Tshopo District: Bafwasende (Bafwasende Territory)

South-Kivu Province: Fizi Territory

Katanga Province: Luiza and Luambo (Luiza Territory); Likasi and Shinkolobwe (Likasi Territory); Makala IDP camp (Kalemie Territory)

The following OCHA advocacy efforts related to the respect of humanitarian principles and the mobilization of humanitarian action were highlighted this month by OCHA field offices (Not an exhaustive list. For more detailed information, please refer to OCHA DRC's weekly Monitoring report):

Mahagi Territory, Ituri District: OCHA received this month guarantees of access to vulnerable groups affected by fighting between the FAPC and FNI. Up to 35,000 new vulnerable groups may now be assistance because of an engagement act which was signed by leaders of these two groups. As result of an OCHA advocacy meeting with FAPC Brigade Commander, the supervisor of INGO Malteser's health center was released and his motorbike returned.

South-Kivu: OCHA advocated for the signing of letters of commitment from two commanders of the National Army (Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo) who operate along the Uvira-Baraka-Fizi axis, in South-Kivu Province in order to ensure safe humanitarian access to vulnerable groups.

North-Kivu: Following a mission to Walikale, OCHA in Goma met with General Obedi (Commander of the 8th Military Region) and the Governor of North-Kivu in order to discuss military discipline and leadership for Walikale.

Ituri District: OCHA requested WFP, FAO and AAA to provide assistance to Bogoro IDP families.

CONSOLIDATED APPEALS PROCESS (CAP) 2004

DRC CAP 2004

At the beginning of August, overall funding through the CAP 2004 for the DRC was at 41.9%. From the revised requirements of US$160 million essential to cover the needs of affected populations in 2004, US$67 million had been contributed or pledged by donors, leaving a shortfall of US$93 million. The following sectors had all received less than 5% funding through the Consolidated Appeal at the beginning of August: Family Shelter & NFIs, Health, Water & Sanitation, Education, Protection/Human Rights/Rule of Law, and Economic Recovery & Infrastructure (See below table).7

Sector
Requirements
(USD)
Contributions / Pledges / carryover (USD)
Percentage
Funded
Agriculture
11,598,250
3,633,069
31.3%
Coordination & Support Services
8,870,330
6,284,924
71%
Economic Recovery & Infrastructure
8,225,000
274,725
3.3%
Education
2,719,091
99,942
3.7%
Family Shelter & NFIs
4,793,863
0%
Food
56,700,000
31,611,013
55.8%
Health
25,349,900
0%
Mine Action
5,027,744
508,824
10%
Multi-sector
23,114,682
18,223,987
78.8%
Protection/Human Rights/Rule of Law
9,523,653
410,059
4.3%
Security
1,048,520
274,725
26%
Water & Sanitation
3,071,023
0%
UNATTRIBUTED
5,811,336
TOTAL
160,042,056
67,132,604
41.9%

In addition to funding within the CAP, donor reported contributions outside the CAP totalled US$59.7 million at the beginning of August. This included substantial contributions from the European Commission, in particular in the health sector.

A Good Humanitarian Donorship meeting was held in Kinshasa on 27 July. The objective of this meeting was to discuss and agree upon, with more than 70 participants, including the representation of 13 donors and embassies, the proposed Common Humanitarian Strategy for DRC in 2005.

Under the Good Humanitarian Donorship global initiative, donors agreed recently to limit funding outside the CAP and to report all funding to OCHA, a step which is expected to provide a more comprehensive framework for measuring available funding against agreed upon priorities.

DRC is the second pilot country, with Burundi, to benefit from the Good Humanitarian Donorship initiative which was launched in Stockholm in June 2003. 18 donors have pledged to: improve the flexibility of their financing; provide funds based on needs; reinforce local capacities to prevent crises; respond rapidly; and support the transition from emergency to development through appropriate funding.

DRC Common Humanitarian Strategy 2005

In preparation for the elaboration of the Consolidated Interagency Appeal (CAP) 2005 for DRC, the global Common Humanitarian Strategy workshop was held in Kinshasa this month from 28-30 July. This workshop followed on the footsteps of four regional workshops which were held in May in Goma, Bunia and Kinshasa where hundreds of participants analyzed the humanitarian situation and priorities in four principle zones8. Approximately 60 donor, embassy, UN, NGO, Red Cross and government representatives attended this latest workshop, of which the objective was to analyze the outcome of the first four preparatory workshops in an effort to elaborate the global humanitarian strategy.

Footnotes:

1 Numbers could rise up to 75,000, according to some sources.

2 FAPC: Forces Armées du Peuple Congolais.

3 FNI: Front des Nationalistes et Intégrationnistes.

4 10th Military Region is South-Kivu Province.

5 Northern side of the front line was held by Nkunda and southern by Mabe.

6 This data is yet to be confirmed.

7 Source : OCHA Financial Tracking System, Reliefweb, 06 August 2004. Data for contributions to the CAP are compiled by OCHA on the basis of information provided by respective appealing organisations.

8 Kinshasa, 24-25 May : Bas Congo, Kinshasa, Bandundu, Equateur, Orientale (minus Ituri District) Provinces; Kinshasa, 26-27 May : Eastern and Western Kasai and Katanga (minus Tanganika District) Provinces ; Goma, 25-26 May: North-Kivu, South-Kivu, Maniema, Katanga (Tanganika) Provinces; Bunia, 28-29 May: Ituri District.

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