DR Congo: Humanitarian crisis Mid Year Review 2009

Humanitarian consequences of military operations in the Kivus

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The neighbouring eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu are once again in the throes of a complex situation in which civilians are paying a heavy price. At the source of the latest crisis is the Congolese government's ambition to restore peace and security in the east through military operations. While peace and security are laudable goals, the military operations, which are targeting the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) armed group, are having devastating impact on innocent civilians. Since the launch of the military campaigns some six months ago, an estimated total of 800,000 people- 350,000 in North Kuvi and 450,000 in South Kivu- have been displaced in these two provinces. The total number of IDPs in the country currently stands at 1.7 million.

Civilians have become direct target of the armed groups. Killings, looting of houses and food crops, extortions and threats are but a shortlist of the heavy toll that civilians are paying, notably women and children. In essence the two provinces are suffering from a deep crisis of protection. Equally as responsible as the armed groups are soldiers of the Congolese army (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo- FARDC) who have seen in civilians easy targets for ransom, looting and extortion.

In North Kivu, Lubero and Walikale are the two territories with the most pressing needs. Humanitarian needs include, inter alia, destruction of schools, lack of non food items for displaced people and host communities, insufficient access to basic services, and insufficient response to victims of sexual and gender-based violence, lack of protection for civilians. While they do suffer the same consequences, the operations against the Rwandan Hutu Rebels of FDLR in Walikale have caused massive movements of population, not registered during the last four years. From January to May 2009, 90 000 persons fled, looking for protection in safe areas, while it is estimated that some 300,000 people have returned to their homes in the sole territory of Rutshuru, formerly controlled by the National Council for the Defence of the People of Laurent Nkunda. It is estimated that at least $23 million is needed to these two territories.

The situation is South Kivu mirrors that of the northern neighbour, where humanitarian needs include sexual violence, lack of funds in case of emergency assistance, persisting insecurity, weak basic services, and insufficient partners. A major concern is the issue of sexual violence where according to UN Population Fund, 1,135 cases of rape and sexual violence have been recorded for the first three months of the year, representing more than half of the total caseload in 2008.

Internal displacement has increased in tandem with attacks and other exactions against civilians in South Kivu. As of June 2009, it was estimated that the number of IDPs (old and new) stood at 445,900 across the province, with 124,000 displaced in the last three months. Evidently humanitarian access is a concern to the point where the South Kivu inter-agency committee decided in late May, to monitor the evolution of the security situation in these zones before resuming food or NFI distributions. On the other hand the number of returnees stands at some 780,000 with the majority going back to the territory of Walungu. In this province, an additional US $15 million is needed.

The crisis is posing a serious financial challenge to the humanitarian community because eight months ago when it launched its US $831-million Humanitarian Action Plan (HAP) 2009, the plan did not foresee such a rapid deterioration in the situation. The ever-changing situation, which risks deteriorating if the military operations continue for several more weeks, has heightened fears among aid workers that they may not be able to cope.

The Mid-Year seeks to ensure that humanitarian agencies will have the necessary financial resources to provide life-saving assistance to the needy. Donors have shown their generosity by contributing to the various funding mechanisms, and civilians and aid workers alike are more than grateful. To this date, the 2009 HAP has received some $408 million. The Pooled Fund and the Central Emergency Response Fund have contributed $26 million and $13 million respectively. Unfortunately these contributions have been unable to keep pace with the latest emergencies.

SITUATION OVERVIEW IN NORTH KIVU - SOUTH LUBERO AND WALIKALE

The humanitarian situation in the Eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo has continued to deteriorate since the beginning of the year 2009. Military operations by the FARDC and the FDLR have resulted in significant numbers of new IDPs and widespread violence against civilians. At present, more than 350 000 persons have fled to avoid fighting and clashes between the Congolese Army and the Rwandan Hutu Rebels of FDLR. Many of these families had already fled the war several times, moving back and forth to avoid the armed groups and the frontline.

At the same time, the Congolese government signed a peace agreement with the National Council for Defense of the People (CNDP( and other armed groups. This peace agreement has resulted in the return of around 300,000 persons in the Rutshuru territory, former CNDP controlled zone. Following an accelerated integration of some elements of the armed groups into the FARDC, there has been an increase of extortions and exactions against local populations. The lack of basic logistics support and regular payments to soldiers, included the new integrated elements, has further deteriorated the situation.

The clashes and violence have restricted humanitarian access and the ability to distribute relief items due do fears of violating the principle of "do no harm." Relief assistance to vulnerable populations has been insufficient, leaving many without assistance. In North Kivu, the areas most affected by these military operations are the territories of Lubero, Walikale and parts of Masisi, where most of displaced persons in North Kivu are located.

Over the past weeks, conditions for these extremely vulnerable people have deteriorated rapidly. The total figure of the directly affected and temporarily displaced population is estimated to have passed 450,000 for the territory of Lubero and 90 000 for the territory of Walikale. The affected populations are in dire need of assistance.

Major crisis in Lubero

The humanitarian situation in Lubero is the consequence, on one hand, of joint FARDC-RDF military operations against the FDLR and, on the other hand, the result of constant retaliation on behalf of FDLR militias against the civil population in the region. The FDLR continue to attack villages and target military positions, health centres and families. The security situation in the southern part of the Territory is extremely volatile due to the ongoing exactions perpetrated against the civil population by armed individuals, by armed groups, particularly FDLR and Mai Mai Pareco, as well as the Congolese Army.

In this context, the humanitarian access has been reduced in the southern part of Lubero territory. Nevertheless, the main axis (Kanyabayonga-Kayna-Kirumba) has become relatively safe in recent days due to the presence of MONUC patrols with FARDC.

Displaced populations are direct targets of violence, including: killings, sexual violence, protection concerns, lack of access to the fields due to insecurity, lack of shelter, and lack of basic services such as primary healthcare and education. Only few of the local health centres and schools benefit from humanitarian assistance.

The main gaps local communities and displaced population are suffering from are:

- Insecurity due to FDLR attacks and exactions of newly integrated FARDC against civil population.

- Lack of non food items for displaced persons and host communities.

- Water systems deteriorated and lack of latrines.

- No school access for displaced children.

- Destruction of schools.

- Breakdown of nutritional medical support and weakness of nutrition status diagnostic.

- Presence of unaccompanied children, due to the forced displacements.

- Lack of support for children associated with forced and armed groups.

- Weak assistance for victims of SGBV (medical care and psychosocial support)

- Limitation of basic health care (shortage of medicine, lack of staff) due to the massive presence of displaced populations.

- Weakness on food security support to host families.

Major crisis in Walikale

The humanitarian situation in Walikale is also the consequence of the operations against the FDLR. Civil populations feel hostage of FDLR militias, and suffer the presence of undisciplined FARDC-elements who are causing extortions and exactions.

The security situation remains precarious in different main axes: Kibua-Kashebere, Itebero-Hombo, Pinga-Mwezo (territory of Masisi), under control of FDLR and with continuous fighting between them and the Congolese Army. Eight villages of the Wanyanga zone (Oninga, Mbaru, Mashaki, Kaseke, Mianga, etc) and five of the Bakano zone (Nkuku, Mitaka, Kakumba, Isesa, Ikingi) remain under FDLR control.

The FDLR pursue the recuperation of the territories formerly under their control and commit numerous exactions against the civil populations, accusing them of having collaborated with the FARDC. Other attacks aim at weakening the operational capacities of the Congolese army. That is why continuous displacement is reported.

Besides the security situation, there is limited physical access to Walikale which is only reachable from Kisangani-Lubutu axe. Some partners are working on road rehabilitation, as German Agro Action, which has finished the rehabilitation of the road Walikale-Mpofi. Nevertheless, the access to the south (Hombo) is only possible up to Itebero. Meanwhile, the access through the road Kibua-Kashebere is still very difficult. The lack of humanitarian partners active in the zone has been influenced by a relatively unstable situation (in the last four years) and the limited physical access. This is an additional concern in the current crisis situation.

This entire context reduces humanitarian access and humanitarian activity in this territory. As indicated, the operations against the Rwandan Hutu Rebels of FDLR in Walikale have caused massive movements of population, never registered during the last four years. From January to May 2009, 90 000 persons fled, looking for protection in safe areas. As the case of Lubero, displaced and local populations are facing various problems, including: killings, sexual violence, protection concerns, lack of access to the fields due to insecurity, lack of shelter, and the weakness of basic services such as primary healthcare and education. Due to lack of humanitarian actor in the field, only few of the local health centres and schools benefit from humanitarian assistance. The main gaps local communities and displaced populations are suffering from are:

- Insecurity due to FDLR attacks and exactions of newly integrated FARDC against civil population.

- Lack of partners.

- Difficult physical access.

- Lack of non food items for displaced persons and host communities.

- Water systems deteriorated and lack of latrines.

- No school access for displaced children.

- Destruction of schools.

- Breakdown of nutritional medical support and weakness of nutrition status diagnostic.

- Presence of unaccompanied children, due to the forced displacements.

- Lack of support for children associated to forced and armed groups.

- Limited assistance for victims of SGBV (medical care and psychosocial support)

- Limitation on basic health care (shortage of medicines, lack of staff) due to the massive presence of displaced populations.

- Weakness on food security support to host families.

- Lack of food aid for displaced persons.