OCHA Situation Report
DR Congo: North Kivu
12 September 2007


The situation in the province is tense. Masisi and Rutshuru districts
remain heavily militarized and the population is still under increased
insecurity. Population movements are reported in several directions, but
the lack of access by humanitarian workers doesn't allow a precise
assessment of the situation outside Goma and hampers the deliverance of
assistance. Humanitarian organisations have full access to displaced
families currently in Mugunga and Bulengo areas, about 15 km west of
Goma, where relief aid is underway.

CONTEXT

The Congolese army, Laurent Nkunda's troops and FDLR/Mayi-Mayi remain on
their positions in and around Sake and following the cessation of
hostilities agreed on September 6th, despite some breaches reported in
Ngungu and Rubaya, in Masisi district.

A UN vehicle (MONUC) was stoned on September 11th in Nyamilima, in
Ruthsuru district. No one was injured, but this incident keeps
increasing insecurity on all UN staff as there is a risk of confusion
among the population between MONUC and UN agencies.

MONUC has appealed to all parties in conflict to respect the cessation
of hostilities and find a peaceful solution to the situation.

POPULATION MOVEMENTS

In the past days, most of the population from Sake and Ufumandu (Masisi
territory) has moved east towards Mugunga, and south along the Kivu Lake
shore and Minova in South Kivu. Access to these areas is less restricted
than in areas north or west of Sake.

In the sites of Mugunga and Bulengo, the teams of three agencies and
four NGOs are still registering internally displaced families. As of
September 11th, 7,100 families had been registered, while preliminary
estimates indicate that the total number of displaced families now on
both sites could be as high as 11,000 families. These families fled
Masisi territory after the fighting which started on August 27th in the
area. In early August, 1,800 families were staying at the sites.

An NGO mission was conducted in Kiwanja, 75 km North of Goma, in
Rutshuru district. No new IDPs have been reported in this area.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

UN agencies and NGOs keep on delivering relief assistance consisting of
food aid, non-food items, water and sanitation, and basic health and
nutritional care to the most vulnerable people who arrive in Mugunga and
Bulengo. UNICEF/Solidarites, WFP/Caritas, UNHCR/Norwegian Rescue
Committee, WHO/International Medical Corp, Save the Children and World
Vision are present in the field.

In Mugunga and Bulengo, a total of 5,000 families received food rations,
4,500 children and pregnant women were vaccinated against measles and
tetanus and 6,900 non-food item kits were distributed. (consolidated
figures including September 12th distributions)

Pending confirmation of minimum security conditions, an inter-agency
mission is planned to reach Masisi town by road this week. The convoy
will bring emergency food aid where very few humanitarian workers have
accessed since August 27th.

Contacts:

Patrick Lavand'homme, Head of Office, Goma (North Kivu),
OCHA-DR Congo
Email: lavandhomme@un.org
Tel: +243 (0) 819 889 165

Christophe Illemassene, Senior Public Information Officer, Kinshasa,
OCHA-DR Congo
Email: illemassene@un.org
Tel: +243 (0) 819 889 195

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