U.N. delegation to Bukiringi village "gravely concerned" with level of insecurity

* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.

On 1 February 2011, Mr. Fidele Sarassoro, the Humanitarian Coordinator (H.C.) and Deputy Special Representative to the Secretary General (DSRSG) for D.R. Congo, led a delegation of senior United Nations officials, INGO representatives, and Congolese protection forces on an official visit to conflict-affected Bukiringi in southern Ituri region, Province Orientale. Medair supports the health clinic in Bukiringi, providing free health care to everyone in the village. “While international attention has justly focused on violence in the Uélé regions of D.R. Congo and the plight of its internally displaced persons (IDPs), chronic insecurity has also destabilised dozens of villages in Ituri region, creating emergency conditions,” said Philip Walker, Medair Desk Officer for D.R. Congo. “To help address this crisis, Medair is providing free health care for 340,000 vulnerable people in 36 villages in the Gety and Boga districts of Ituri.” In Bukiringi, approximately 24,600 vulnerable people currently have no means of livelihood and no access to safe drinking water or sanitation facilities. Although some tents are set up for the displaced, and mosquito nets have been distributed to prevent malaria, most people prefer to sleep in the forest because they fear attacks that come at night. “The issues you have raised regarding insecurity are of grave concern to all of us,” said Mr. Sarassoro. “We are aware of the difficulty that exists in Bukiringi and we are all working towards building peace in D.R. Congo. I would like to assure you that we are advocating for this at a national level to arrive at a viable solution.” Two weeks ago, Bukiringi was attacked again. “We are forced to flee at least every three months,” said Lillian Nawassi, clinic nurse. “During this last attack, we took essential medicines with us when we went to hide. Our patients helped us transport the items, so we were able to treat patients while hiding in the forest.” “You cannot believe the conditions that the IDPs in this region are living under,” said Dr. Blaise Gaya Anyom, D.R. Congo’s chief medical doctor for Gety. “The social services in this region, including health and education facilities, have been completely destroyed.” Health clinics are targeted for looting during attacks, and often nothing is left behind, not even patient records. “These attacks put such a strain in the lives of IDPs who are already vulnerable owing to extreme poverty,” said Medair Supervisor Beatrice Kavira.  “Without the necessary equipment, health centres will not function. We deliver free reproductive health and transfusion kits, and we restock medicines so that clinics can continue to treat patients.” At the Medair-supported health clinic in Bukiringi, patients are most commonly treated for malaria, respiratory infections, diarrhoea, and sexual and gender-based violence. Medair also offers free reproductive health care, emergency obstetrics, management of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV prevention package, family planning, and training of health professionals. Since attacks could happen at any time, Medair gives pregnant women clean, hygienic delivery kits that they can use if they go into labour while on the run from militia. “We are expecting approximately 10,000 births in 2011, but I can assure you that almost 80 percent of the clinics in these two regions (Boga and Gety) do not have all the necessary up-to-standard equipment for the deliveries,” said Dr. Jerry Masudi, Emergency Aid Coordinator, Ituri Field Office of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). “The situation is very precarious.” “Despite all the problems, we have partners that help us to meet these needs through humanitarian coordination: partners like Medair and the UNFPA,” said Dr. Blaise Gaya Anyom. “But despite all the support, the need is still immense, not just in Bukiringi but in the whole region. “That is why for us this is a visit of hope,” he concluded, addressing the U.N. delegation. “We are convinced that your mission here will have a positive impact on the issues that the people of this region are facing.” Medair is committed to continue providing life-saving relief to the people of Bukiringi and to the one million people it serves each year throughout northeastern D.R. Congo. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For Media: English- and French-speaking Medair staff are available for interviews and more information. Beneficiary stories and photos are also available. D.R. Congo : Gloria Lihemo, Field Communications Officer, +243 99 332 8224,       fco-congo@medair.org Switzerland (Medair HQ): Timothy Chapuis, Media Liaison, +41 21 694 3549, timothy.chapuis@medair.org Medair’s D.R. Congo programmes are supported by the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department, the United States Agency for International Development, Swiss Solidarity, the Pooled Fund, the Global Fund, the United Nations Population Fund and private donors. As one of the longest-serving INGOs in the region, Medair has delivered emergency relief and rehabilitation in northeastern D.R. Congo since 1997 and earned the trust of local communities and leaders.  Medair provides health care for more than one million people a year in Ituri, Bas-Uélé, and Haut-Uélé districts, supporting more than 200 health structures with technical guidance, supervision, training of health staff, and supplies of medicines and materials. Medair also works to improve access to water, sanitation, and hygiene in the region. This media release was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organisation.