DR Congo: OCHA North Kivu Humanitarian Situation Report - 12 Nov 2007

Over the last days, clashes of various intensity have been reported in different locations in Rutshuru and Masisi districts. Since these clashes occurred in areas where few civilians remained, no report of massive population displacements came yet. Assistance is being provided in most areas where security and physical access is possible and populations not yet assisted are targeted in Kitchanga and Masisi town.

CONTEXT

WFP trucks carrying food aid bound to Kirolirwe and Kitchanga (Masisi) were blocked at Mugunga gate by FARDC on 11th November. Following advocacy to FARDC military authorities, the trucks were allowed through on 12th November in the morning.

A few unidentified men in military uniform raided the town of Lushebere (Masisi) on the night of 9-10th November, killed six civilians and wounded 4 more. MONUC's Human Rights Section will conduct an investigation this week.

FDLR and Mayi Mayi elements engaged in fighting Chondo (south shore of Lake Edward) on 9th November. This event seems to be related to the control of fishing resources in Lake Edward.

Local population in Kibariza and Butale (25 km west of Kitchanga in Masisi district) has been looted on 11th November.

POPULATION MOVEMENTS

No new population movements have been reported over the past days. Recent clashes occurred in areas where very civilians were left.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

As of last week, INGO Caritas has registered 4,000 displaced families in Kitchanga and 5,000 displaced families in Kirolirwe.

On 12th November, UNHCR transferred 1,273 IDPs from Lac Vert to Buhimba sites (10-15km west of Goma), bringing the total IDPs transferred from Lac Vert to Buhimba to 3,649 since the beginning of the transfer on 7th November. The transfer will last at least another week. The total population of Buhimba now totals 5,445 people.

INGO Norwegian Refugee Coucil, UNHCR and provincial authorities organised camp elections of IDP committee in Mugunga II IDP site (15 km west of Goma). The stipulated procedures included the precondition that both the President and Vice President should be from a different ethnicity and gender.

INGO International Medical Corps, UNFPA and local health authorities conducted a training session to IDP community sensitisers (70) in the sites west of Goma on how to prevent mother and child mortality and to sensitise on sexual violence.

UNICEF/Solidarites completed distributions of non food items to 4,055 displaced families in Rutshuru town and to 3,117 displaced families in Kiwanja. WFP/Caritas will complete food distributions to these IDPs this week.

Contacts:

Patrick Lavand'homme, Head of Office, Goma (North Kivu), OCHA-DR Congo
Email: lavandhomme@un.org
Tel: +243 (0) 819 889 165

Christophe Illemassene, Senior Public Information Officer, Kinshasa, OCHA-DR Congo
Email: illemassene@un.org
Tel: +243 (0) 819 889 195