OCHA Situation Report
DR Congo  - North Kivu
27 November 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

MILITARY SITUATION

Sake, Masisi territory, 25km from Goma

Last night (26 November) MONUC established a security cordon to prevent 
the advance of the 83rd brigade towards Goma. With the 11th Integrated 
Brigade (IB), MONUC took positions at Mumabiro (just outside Sake) and 
Kasengazi (5 km outside Sake). The 14th IB was stationed on the 
outskirts of Goma.  Most other MONUC troops were concentrated inside 
Goma.

At 05:25 this morning (27 November), the 83rd and 81st brigades (Nkunda 
loyalists) attacked the MONUC and the 11th IB positions at Mumabiro and 
Kasengazi. The 11th IB fled immediately, already weak and low on 
supplies.

At 06:15 MONUC used infantry and attack helicopters to defend their 
positions, firing first warning shots and then directly on the 83rd and 
81st brigades that continued to advance. By 06:30 83rd/81st brigades 
were moving back into the hills around Sake. Major Faustin of the 83rd 
asked to negotiate, and MONUC replied that it would not talk until the 
83rd and 81st brigades fell back to their original positions.

MONUC had taken full control of Sake town by late morning. The 14th IB 
was deployed from Goma, and absorbed the remaining elements of the 
defeated 11th IB.  The combined 14th/11th IB started advancing up the 
three hills surrounding Sake, pushing the 83rd/81st brigades from where 
they had been shelling Sake town.

MONUC and integrated FARDC presently control all of Sake town, and the 
83rd and 81st brigade are falling back to their old positions.

The total casualties counted by MONUC in Sake for 25 and 26 November 
are: 11th IB FARDC, 3 dead, 53 wounded; MONUC, 0 dead, 0 wounded; 
civilians 1 dead, 19 wounded.  Figures for 83rd and 81st brigades are 
not known. Figures for 27 November are not known. These numbers do not 
include all civilian casualties - only persons that were recovered and 
transferred by MONUC.

Following MONUC INBATT briefing, Goma and Sake are completely secured, 
but Nkunda are still posing a threat with reportedly bout 900 men still 
circulating North West of Goma

Tongo, central Rutshuru territory

As of yesterday (26 November), the 9th IB had taken control of lower 
Tongo. The 83rd brigade had taken positions near the "Supercell tower" 
in Mulingi to the north. Upper Tongo itself was deserted.

Heavy fighting occurred today (27 November) between the 9th IB and the 
83rd. A spokesman for Nkunda said that two battalions of FDLR (Rwandan 
Interahamwe) had been seen fighting alongside the 9th IB. Please note 
that the 9th IB, composed largely of Hutu soldiers, have been criticised 
for several months about their close and supportive relationship with 
the FDLR.

The commander of the 9th IB has claimed to have captured all of Tongo, 
Bambu, and Mulingi, as well as major towns in the west of Rutshuru 
including Kikuku and Nyanzale. This information is not confirmed.

According to a Nkunda spokesman, 27 soldiers of the 9th IB were killed 
in the fighting in Nyanzale, and the town is still under the control of 
the 83rd brigade.

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

No access for humanitarian actors was possible in Sake today and neither 
to some western quarters of Goma (Ndosho and Keshero). In some suburbs 
of Goma, the population was hostile to UN cars moving around. An OCHA 
car was not able to bypass an angry crowd while on its way to Ndosho.

In Kitchanga, five staff of MSFF and one of AVSI were still staying in 
the compound of MONUC until this morning. But since the engagement of 
MONUC in combat today, they have decided to leave the MONUC compound to 
preserve their neutrality but also because they believed that MONUC 
could become an easy target. They have reached the Hospital in Mweso, 
and they will stay there until the security situation allows them to 
return to Goma or to move up North out of the zone of the 83rd Brigade.

A number of residents of Sake have fled towards Minova (South Kivu) and 
because of the instability, the humanitarian community has not yet been 
able to assess their situation and provide assistance.  A mission is 
planned by boat to evaluate that situation.

Sake IDPs

There are no civilians remaining in Sake. The current estimate is that 
15 000 - 20 000 people have fled, based on the population estimates for 
the area.

Along the Sake - Goma axis, the majority of the displaced are with host 
families in Goma and villages on the outskirts of Goma such as Ndosho 
and Keshero.  At Mugunga, roughly halfway between Goma and Sake, many 
people have spent the night outside. OCHA has observed roughly 2000 
persons in the area yesterday morning (26 November) and according to 
local authorities 7500 people have spent the night outside. These 
displaced left Sake very quickly and without personal belongings, so 
they are in a state of high vulnerability. The Rapid Response Mechanism 
is ready to distribute shelter and non-food items as soon as the 
situation becomes more stable.

Along the Sake - Minova (South Kivu border) road, there is very little 
information available about IDPs. In Minova, roughly 20km from Sake 
there are at least 100 displaced families staying with host families - 
other conflicting reports have put the figure at 15 000 people, and 
UNHCR has said 2000. There is no information on the number and placement 
of IDPs on the rest of the axis. MONUC/CAS may send an observation 
mission, and OCHA North Kivu may be able to access the axis, given the 
improved security situation in Sake.

Tongo IDPs

There are currently 2500 IDPs in Rubare and Kalengera, towns south west 
of Rutshuru town, according to UNHCR. These IDPs fled fighting yesterday 
(26 November) and there are no new reported displacements today. No 
humanitarian missions were possible because of the overall insecurity.

Contact:

Maimouna N. Mills, Public Information and Advocacy Manager, 
mills@un.org, - Tel.: +243 819889191 Patrick Lavand'homme, head of 
Office, Goma, North Kivu, lavandhomme@un.org, +243 819889149 
http://www.rdc-humanitaire.net

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