UN humanitarian chief calls for political solution for DRC

(New York, 10 September 2007): On 11 September, 2007 Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes will brief the Security Council on his mission to the DRC.

Mr. Holmes left the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 8 September after spending five days in the country to get a first hand view of the humanitarian situation. His visit began in the capital and included meetings with President Joseph Kabila, cabinet ministers, humanitarian actors and donor representatives. Mr. Holmes then flew to the troubled eastern provinces where he visited sites for displaced persons in North Kivu and a hospital in South Kivu specialized in aiding victims of sexual violence.

With regard to the ongoing crisis in North Kivu, Mr. Holmes stated that a military solution would not address the root cause of the conflict and therefore could not constitute a durable solution. He called upon all parties to renew dialogue and to endeavour to find a political solution to the current crisis. In his exchanges with displaced families, Mr. Holmes assured them of the humanitarian community's strong commitment to keep providing aid and to help them regain their dignity. The USG also stressed that access to displaced families is crucial if assistance is to be effective. All parties involved in the conflict must respect the fundamental right to assistance and allow humanitarian organizations to reach all civilian populations in need.

The appalling levels of sexual violence and the brutality with which those crimes are committed shocked Mr. Holmes. He commended those who tirelessly work to assist victims of sexual violence for their remarkable efforts but also stressed that sexual assaults must stop. Because the current climate of impunity encourages perpetrators of sexual violence, the government must do more to speed up the rehabilitation of the judicial system in order to bring offenders to justice. Mr. Holmes also encouraged humanitarian actors to strengthen aid and increase holistic assistance to victims. "We cannot only treat the victims--we must stop this cancer," said the USG.

For further information, please call: Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; Dizery Salim, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 9262; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570. OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.