D.R. CONGO: TOP HUMANITARIAN OFFICIAL ARRIVES IN KINSHASA

(Kinshasa/New York, 29 April 2010): The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, John Holmes, today started a five-day visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Mr. Holmes will travel to three of the country's provinces most affected by armed violence: South Kivu, Orientale Province, and Equateur Province.

During his visit, Mr. Holmes will assess humanitarian priorities and necessary responses, in a context of increasing insecurity for humanitarian workers in some areas. Protection of civilians is at the top of the concerns he will discuss with the authorities, with the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), and with the humanitarian community.

"The scale of the humanitarian needs and the lack of protection of the population continue to be of huge concern", Mr. Holmes said. "I have come to see for myself how the situation is evolving." During a meeting with Mr. Alexis Thambwe Mwamba, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the DRC, Mr. Holmes acknowledged the efforts made by the Government in promoting stability, and in working with the international community to address humanitarian needs and protection concerns. The Minister and Mr. Holmes also discussed the peace process in the east, the continuing crisis involving the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), and the safety of humanitarian workers.

In the DRC, it is estimated that, despite returns in some places, almost 1.9 million people are currently internally displaced due to armed violence. Most of them have continuing and significant humanitarian needs. Each of the three provinces Mr. Holmes will visit has been affected by complex emergencies with different root causes. "We must continue to tackle the humanitarian consequences of these crises", said Mr. Holmes, "But the underlying issues also need to be dealt with urgently, so that transitions to development and recovery can start in earnest".