OCHA Situation Report
Democratic Republic of Congo
Report for January 2006
10 March 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

General Humanitarian Context

January 2006 was marked by confrontations in several localities in 
Eastern of the DRC between the FARDC and the militiamen in Ituri, 
between the FARDC and FDLR in NorthKivu and SouthKivu, between the FARDC 
and insurrectionists in the territory of Rutshuru, as well as combat 
between the FARDC and the MayiMayi in Northern Province of Katanga. The 
conflicts caused negative humanitarian consequences. The military 
operations were accompanied by numerous human rights violations and 
interruption of humanitarian activities.

- NorthKivu: In Beni, military operations against the ADF/NALU rebels, 
launched in December 2005, continued with the mapping up of ADF/NALU's 
pockets of resistance. These operations resulted in the displacement of 
at least 16,789 households. These IDPs were found on the OichaEringeti, 
ButemboIsale, Kamango and Sud Lubero roads. An attack was launched on 
Rutshuru on 19 January by the FARDC dissident General Laurent Nkunda. 
Confrontations between insurrectionists and the 5th FARDC Brigade 
triggered the displacement of nearly 6,000 people towards the North of 
Kanyabayonga to seek refuge in Kirumba. As of 25 January, many people 
had returned home following the joint MONUCFARDC security action in the 
area. SouthKivu: Approximately 7,000 households moved, following 
military operations, FDLR incursions and the exactions perpetrated by 
armed bands in the Kalole area, Shabunda territory, and the Burhinyi 
area, Mwenga territory. Insecurity created tended to reduce the 
humanitarian access. In addition, a resurgence of cholera (300 new cases 
in Uvira in January 2006 only), as well as a worsening in Shabunda of 
malnutrition (34 new hospitalized cases at the end of January 2006 
against 12 cases four months ago) and malaria in the return areas of the 
Congolese repatriated from Tanzania (Fizi) (approximately 21,061 
repatriated people have already arrived during the year 2005) was 
observed.

- Province of Katanga: Recent attacks perpetrated by the FAC and 
MayiMayi caused populations to displace on the LikasiMitwaba axis, 
creating a new site of IDPs. Humanitarian sources indicate that the food 
situation of IDPs is very bad in Mitwaba. 12,643 people are scattered in 
the villages of Kyubo, Kalenga, Mukana and Mamba on the Kituntuka road. 
770 cholera cases with 35 deaths were reported in Malemba Nkulu, Kikonja 
and Butumba.

- Ituri (Orientale Province): The FARDC evacuated the 1,500 displaced 
households of Aveba, Nombe, Gethy, etc. and recommended to the 
population to withdraw in anticipation of the confrontations ahead. The 
displaced populations on the Eringeti road informed the humanitarian 
community of their concerns about continued exactions, plundering of 
harvests, and the charging of fees to access fields, by the 17th Brigade 
troops of the FARDC.

- District of Tanganyka: MayiMayi combatants, fleeing the FARDC 
offensive, are reported to have torched several villages in the 
territories of Moba and Manono, thus causing populations movements. 
Nearly 6,000 new IDPs were identified in the two territories. At the 
same time, FAO reported flooding of approximately 30 hectares of 
cultivated fields in Kalemie and its environs.

- Orientale Province: The humanitarian situation remains marked by 
epidemics such as the measles which caused the death of 2 persons out of 
62 cases in Isiro, Dingila and Dongo and 46 cases of Monkeypox with 2 
deaths in Dingila and Watsa. These figures are from a health area which 
submitted its reports to WHO, for because of the nurses' strike this 
month, the data could not be collected appropriately. Plague, yellow 
fever, rivers blindness, and sleeping disease, killed many people in 
Grand Nord and along the littoral of the Congo River. Malnutrition is 
also a major concern in the province. During the month, 1,487 
malnourished children were received in different nutritional centers. 
Internal displacement in the province was caused by floods in Isangi, 
Yahuma, Basoko, fighting and epidemics. On the whole, about 60,300 IDPs 
were recorded at the end of December 2005. 854 Sudanese refugees are 
still present at Doruma because of the tribal war between Dinka and 
Azande across the border. 200 pygmies, 4 km from Isiro, on the Dungu 
road, that fled their natural habitat are reported to be in an alarming 
humanitarian situation. The displaced populations lack everything. They 
have no food, medicines, agricultural implements nor access to their 
fields.

Meanwhile, in certain localities, the populations returned to their 
areas of origin. On 25 January 2006, a massive return of IDPs from 
Kirumba towards Rutshuru and Kanyabayonga was observed, with the help of 
the reopening of the Kanaybayonga Rutshuru road section in NorthKivu. 
Soldiers' families are among these populations. Following the military 
operations to ensure security in the South of Mahagi, in Ituri, 
humanitarian sources reported the return of 3,734 families to their 
regions of origin. There are a few returned families as well. Others 
would still hesitate to return following the destruction of community 
infrastructure - potable water sources, health facilities, schools and 
homes. The Mungele returnee children do not have access to school for 
lack of school fees. The people responsible for the two schools in 
Mungele addressed a letter to OCHA for a solution. At least 7,000 of the 
20.000 Congolese that fled towards Uganda at the beginning of 
confrontations would have returned.

The epidemiologic picture is unchanged: cholera, measles, 
gastroenteritis... In fact, cholera continues to rage in Uvira, in 
SouthKivu, in Malemba Nkulu and Butumba, Katanga Province. 
Gastroenteritis is signaled in Beni while malaria is reported in 
refugees return areas in Uvira. In MbujiMayi (Kasai Oriental) 390 cases 
of measles with 7 deaths were reported. Malnutrition is increasing in 
Shabunda since the withdrawal of ACF (AAH). In Watsa, WHO reports 18 
suspected cases of Monkeypox. Samples have been collected for laboratory 
tests.

Cases of sexual violence are continually reported in the areas of 
military operations. Several cases of rape committed by FARDC soldiers, 
sent from Goma for backup in the fight against insurrectionists, were 
reported particularly in Rutshuru. Rapes were also reported in the 
BeniOicha health zone, in Mutwanga as well as in Lodja, in Sankuru. 
According to WHO and UNFPA, 603 cases of sexual violence were reported 
in Orientale Province, apart from Ituri, in 2005, whereas, the 
Provincial Health Inspectorate reported 1,823 new cases in 2005.

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