DRC: Vast humanitarian needs found from Uvira to Fizi, South Kivu

(New York, 31 Oct 2003) - A recent humanitarian needs assessment mission conducted jointly by several UN agencies has found widespread humanitarian needs in the region from Uvira to Fizi in South Kivu Province of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Priorities for humanitarian action are protection/security, water, health and food security, according to the mission, conducted from 16 to 20 October by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, The United Nations Children's Fund, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization.

The population of the region visited was estimated to be about 375,000 people, including 76,500 internally displaced persons (IDPs), 44,500 internal returnees and 5,000 returnees from neighbouring Tanzania - many of whom had been refugees for five to seven years. "Hundreds if not thousands" of Rwandan refugees who wished to remain in the DRC were also reported.

The mission reported that although a greater sense of security seemed to have returned among the population, residents remained apprehensive about the possible eruption of renewed hostilities, given the presence of a wide range of armed elements in the region.

Serious concerns about the safety of civilians in the region persist. The mission said that a "considerable number of people remained displaced in inaccessible areas, with no intention of returning to their homes until their security could be guaranteed by all military actors". The mission also cited one local NGO as having reported that from August to mid-October 2003, 452 women and seven men had been raped along the Makobola-Baraka-Katanga axis.

Food insecurity was found to be closely linked to continued insecurity: despite being a very fertile region, many residents had refused to resume cultivation of their fields, the systematic pillage of crops having become common practice among armed groups. On top of this, the steady return of IDPs and refugees had placed a considerable burden on already food-insecure populations. The mission reported that malnutrition "was clearly visible" among populations to which they had access.

"Urgent" distribution of seeds and tools, as well as food relief to prevent consumption of seeds, was recommended by the mission, which added that rehabilitation of roads would also be necessary to facilitate the eventual transport of harvests from fields to markets. The mission called for the testing of water supplies, the reconstruction of water provision networks, and the installation of latrines. Furthermore, it said the rehabilitation of health centres, the provision of essential medicines and the resumption of vaccination campaigns - including provision of "cold chain" supplies for the proper storage of vaccines - would be needed.

A final report of the mission is due to be issued next week, followed by a special coordination meeting among UN agencies and NGOs to discuss follow-up action.

UN OCHA Regional Support Office for West Africa - Abidjan

For further information, please call Stephanie Bunker +917 367 5126 (OCHA NY), Elizabeth Byrs +41 22 917 2653 (OCHA Geneva)