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DR Congo

Humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC in lead-up to historic elections

As the Democratic Republic of Congo prepares for its first multi-party elections in 40 years, the eastern region in particular is suffering an escalating humanitarian emergency. Analysis of health data collected by International Medical Corps and the Ministry of Health indicates a crisis situation requiring immediate action. IMC is the only international relief agency serving one of the most volatile parts of eastern DRC, where it cannot afford to wait for election results before taking action.

Scheduled for July 30, 2006, the international community is waiting for the election outcome to answer many questions. Will Joseph Kabila, DRC's transitional president, be elected? If so, by what margin? Will the threat posed by the eastern part of the country destabilize the new government, or the election? There is a sense of 'wait and see' regarding how the international community can engage with the new DRC. Regardless of the outcome, the emergency is sure to continue.

Since the beginning of 2006, IMC's operational areas have received an increasing number of displaced people fleeing from areas controlled by rebel factions and a rogue Congolese army. The DRC government is attempting to clear out the area of rebel factions. Fighting factions are using communities in the deep, rich Kivu forests of Bunyakiri, Kalonge and Hombo Nord zones for resources, labor, and protection. The militia uses fear as a weapon, as well as looting and pillaging, to maintain this relationship. Some of the most persistent and notorious means of fear mongering is mutilation and sexual violence, particularly targeting women, children, and the elderly.

Nearly 10,000 displaced people are gathering along the main communication routes in Bunyakiri. IMC's Bunyakiri therapeutic feeding center has a capacity for 50 patients and is currently caring for over 100 severely malnourished children - 90 percent of whom are from displaced families. These families have fled their villages with no belongings, and the local infrastructure cannot support such a concentration of people in such desperate need. The lack of access to clean water means that sanitation is particularly poor. IMC is supplying essential drugs for over 150 suspected cholera cases as well as chicken pox in children and young adults. Latrines in each referral hospital are overflowing and IMC plans to construct additional latrines at each facility as well as in public areas such as market places.

A disturbing escalation in cases of sexual violence is associated with such violent displacement. IMC records an average of 25 rape cases per month in its operational areas. This figure is recognized as severely under-representing the actual rate of sexual violence - and is dependent on varying degrees of health-seeking behavior and healthcare access. However, during the month of May, between eight and 25 rape cases a night per village were reported. Victims included a 17-month-old baby, elderly women and two young boys.

In addition to supplying essential drugs and referrals for specialist surgery, IMC is seeking to bolster its outreach, which includes curative healthcare, psychological counseling and socio-economic support for victims.

Contact: Stephanie Bowen, Communications Manager, sbowen@imcworldwide.org, 310-826-7800