Humanitarian crisis looming in western DR Congo

(New York: 19 April 2004) - A humanitarian crisis is looming as more than 40,000 Congolese have been expelled from Angola into desperate conditions in the Bandundu and Western Kasai Provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
"There is a real chance for a humanitarian crisis as people are being expelled to remote areas where food, water and shelter are lacking, and to which access is extremely difficult," said Mr. Jan Egeland, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator.

As part of the Government of Angola's a policy of expelling Congolese civilians working as illegal labourers in diamond production, an estimated that 2,500 Congolese are now leaving Angola each day. Since the beginning of April, some 40,000 persons have been registered after crossing the Tungila River, which separates DRC from Angola. The Congolese are being expelled into the remote regions, roughly 700 km from Kinshasa where supplies of food, shelter and water are scarce and humanitarian operations limited. Many of the expellees are living in the streets, or seeking shelter in public buildings. Others are being taken care of by religious organizations and NGOs, who lack the supplies necessary to meet the needs of the rapidly growing population of expellees.

"Based on the reports UN staff have received from the Congolese who have returned, we are very concerned that the expellees are also at risk because of the very nature of the returns," Mr. Egeland said. Drownings have been reported as expellees must cross a dangerous river back into the Democratic Republic of Congo. Entire families of expellees, including children, are reportedly subject to physical maltreatment, including invasive bodily searches.

"While a state has a legitimate right to control who lives or works within its borders, returns of migrant workers must be done without jeopardizing people's physical safety and dignity," he continued.

A humanitarian assessment mission to the area has revealed urgent needs for food, water, health, shelter, clean water supplies and inflatable boats for crossing the river. So far, UN agencies and their non-governmental organization (NGO) partners have delivered enough food, blankets, and jerry cans for carrying water for 2,000 people.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the DRC is planning another assessment mission to Western Kasai Province, where an estimated 18,000 people have been registered. OCHA's office in Angola will be in contact with the Government of Angola regarding the nature of the returns and is working to send a team to Angola's remote Lunda Norte Province, from which the Congolese are being expelled.

For further information, please call: Stephanie Bunker, OCHA NY, 917 367 5126, mobile 917 892 1679; Elizabeth Byrs, OCHA Geneva, 41 22 917 2653, mobile 41(0) 79 473 4570.