United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa)
Monuc
23 October 2007
At its weekly press conference on 23 October 2007, MONUC reiterated its concern over the rising number of rapes on women by armed men in North Kivu province in eastern DRC. WFP country director in the DRC Charles Vincent also gave a progress report on food aid distribution to assist thousands of displaced persons in the province, following violent clashes in recent months.
Since the resumption of military hostilities in North Kivu between the DRC Armed Forces (FARDC) and ex General Laurent Nkunda's rebels, there have been a rising number of rapes made on women by armed men in North Kivu province. MONUC remains highly worried by this situation, and stresses that rape is a completely inadmissible criminal act that no climate of insecurity or impunity can justify.
MONUC invites the Congolese authorities to implement all the necessary measures to arrest and bring before the courts all people guilty of acts of rape. MONUC reaffirms its availability to give all its support to the government and the Congolese legal authorities to stop these criminals, who continue to act with impunity.
Meanwhile, Mr. Charles Vincent, the DRC country director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), visited North Kivu province from 16 to 19 October 2007, and visited Goma and areas such as Kilolirwe in Virunga Park.
In this locality, he noted the shelters set up by the displaced persons, some of whom had been displaced for the third time.
If a durable peace is found for this part of the country, the strategic aims of the WFP would focus more within the scope of local purchases from co-operatives of small producers, for export towards the less fertile countries of Africa.
But the daily reality in the displaced persons zones of North Kivu province remains very different. On Friday 19 October last, clashes reported in the eastern part of Rutshuru towards Bunagana, Rumangabo and even Rugari, forced even more people from their homes.
Again, WFP has just postponed the delivery of food aid in Rutshuru because of this resurgence of insecurity. A distribution of 535 tons of food aid had been planned for 32,150 people in Kihondo (close to Nyanzale).
The only distributions which proceed according to plan are those which take place in the displaced persons camps in Goma territory. Thus, after Bulengo and Mugunga I camps, the distributions are continuing for those displaced in Mugunga camp II. WFP distributed 157 tons of food aid there on Friday 19 October, for 9,450 people.
On October 18 & 19, food aid distribution also took place on the territory of Kalehe, in Kitembo and Minova, on the edge of lake Kivu.
Following the lull in fighting on the Shasha-Bweremana axis, WFP and Caritas organized the distribution of 313 tons of food aid for 18,800 displaced persons. These distributions had been programmed for the week of 8 October, but were cancelled following violent clashes.
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