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Escalating violence forces more people from their homes in the DRC

by ECHO/Malini Morzaria | Thomson Reuters Foundation
Tuesday, 14 August 2012 14:47 GMT

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

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to suffer from one of the largest protracted crises in the world and has, of late, again been the theatre for escalating regional violence with increasing humanitarian needs.

An estimated 2.2 million people are said to be displaced within DRC, Africa's second largest country which is the size of Western Europe. 

The European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) has contributed EUR 63 million in 2012 to assist populations affected by conflict in the DRC.

Since April 2012, the fighting in North Kivu, eastern DRC, has forced more than 270,000 people to flee their homes and seek refuge in neighbouring countries like Uganda and Rwanda or find safe havens within Congo borders.

Former rebels who had been integrated into the regular Congolese army and defected again earlier this year have been battling government troops since April.


These movements of population, along with the increase of the general insecurity created by the redeployment of military troops from the surrounding provinces to North Kivu affect also other areas such as South Kivu and the Oriental Provinces.

The humanitarian situation has deteriorated considerably with civilians reluctantly playing a centre stage role.

In Kanyaruchina, 10 kilometres from Goma, Congolese uprooted from their homes from Kibumba zone seek haven at the camp and live in temporary shelters. Fleeing the fighting between the rebels, M23, and FARDC (Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo), the Government army, the civilians of Kibumba zone say they feared violent atrocities, forced recruitment and rape.

In Kanyaruchina camp, Solidarites - funded by the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) - provides essential basic items to the civilians fleeing conflict.

Access to clean drinking water is essential for the vulnerable people who arrive with what they can salvage; cholera is a recurrent problem in eastern DRC.

In Kanyaruchina camp, civilians take refuge in a church after collecting their humanitarian aid packages.

Protection of civilians and gender-based violence remains a primary concern in most areas of DRC. Mass rapes, abductions, and forced recruitment of children carried out by armed groups continue to take place.

The European Commission is funding activities such as treatment and counselling for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.


Photo credit: Solidarites, 2012


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