Headlines
- Humanitarian activities reduced in Baraka (South Kivu) due to clashes between FARDC and Mayi-Mayi elements
- Urban violence causes serious damage to offices and vehicles of humanitarian actors in North Kivu
Overall Developments
Protection of Civilians
Protection of civilians remains a high concern in the north-eastern part of the Shabunda Territory of South Kivu. According to human rights groups in the area, the national army continues to force civilians to transport their military effects. The same sources report that human rights abuses against civilians also continue to be perpetrated by elements of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), especially in the Walungu Territory, where the most serious incidents included the looting of the villages of Lubila and Tusangane.
Increasing insecurity in South Kivu could lead to a deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Shabunda, from where people have been displaced to the area of Salamabila (Maniema Province). An assessment of the humanitarian situation in Salamabila could not yet be completed, due to the remoteness of the area. A serious deterioration of the humanitarian situation is possible.
Humanitarian Access
In South Kivu, some humanitarian organizations based in Baraka, in the Fizi Territory, have relocated their staff to Uvira, next to the border with Burundi, due to worsened insecurity in the area. This results from clashes between the FARDC and the Mayi-Mayi Yakutumba group, which had intensified since 24 October, forcing approximately 3,000 people from the area to flee towards Bendera, near the border with the Katanga Province.
Insecurity in the Masisi Territory (North Kivu) remains high, with several incidents reported, including:
- In Kisuma, two unidentified armed elements attacked the vehicle of two NGOs, Save the Children – UK (SC-UK) and Médecins Sans Frontières – Belgium (MSF-B), stealing money and mobile telephones.
- In Kilolirwe, a truck chartered by the World Food Program (WFP) for distribution of food to internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Kitchanga was looted on 03 November by armed elements. A total of 11.5 MT has been looted, but there were no casualties. Deliveries of food aid in this area are currently suspended.
Since the beginning of the year, the Masisi Territory has recorded 30 security incidents on humanitarian staff, out of a total of 114 which occurred in the province of North Kivu during the same period. Since July, a significant increase in assaults is reported in the areas of Biteete, Kisuma and Mema.
