D.R. CONGO: MORE SUPPORT NEEDED IN EQUATEUR: UN HUMANITARIAN CHIEF

(Kinshasa / New York / Geneva, 02 May 2010): The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, John Holmes, travelled to the north-western Equateur Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on the fourth day of his visit to the country.

Mr. Holmes visited the town of Dongo, located in the province's north, just across the Oubangui River from the Republic of the Congo (RoC), which was attacked in October 2009. "I was particularly distressed by accounts of how local inhabitants suffered at the hands of armed individuals", he said. "The attackers showed utter disregard for civilians", he added, "Many were decapitated or otherwise brutally killed, while parts of the town were looted and burnt".

Dongo was the epicentre of the latest wave of armed violence in the province, which broke out afresh in October 2009. Fuelled by long-standing disputes over fishing and farming rights, the violence was initially inter-communal in nature, but gradually intensified and transformed into a kind of armed insurgency. At the climax of the crisis, over 200,000 people had left their homes, whether as refugees in neighbouring countries, particularly across the river in the RoC, or as internally displaced persons (IDPs) inside the province.

Responding to humanitarian needs, United Nations entities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have delivered assistance including food, health care, and water and sanitation services. The response was strengthened in February 2010 by the establishment of a "humanitarian house" in Dongo by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), where humanitarians can live and work. "The top priority remains the reestablishment of lasting peace and reconciliation between the communities, which will ease the return of those who fled, since fear of further violence remains strong, particularly while the leader of the violence, known as Odjani, remains at large", said Mr. Holmes. "But providing the right conditions for returnees, including in the areas of shelter, health and education, is also vital".

At present, at least 114,000 people displaced by the crisis are in the RoC as refugees, while an estimated 18,000 more are in the Central African Republic (CAR). As well as helping on the DRC side of the border, the United Nations and its non-governmental partners also launched a flash appeal in March 2010, requesting funding of US$ 59 million to respond to the needs of those who have fled the country. So far, donations have been received totalling $ 17.7 million. Of this amount, $ 5.3 million was provided through the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), managed by OCHA.