6 November 2008
Kinshasa — Civilians fleeing fighting in North Kivu province: Renewed fighting on 6 November has displaced tens of thousands more
Tens of thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs) fled fresh fighting on 6 November between the army and fighters loyal to renegade general, Laurent Nkunda, in two areas of North Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), just as aid workers had started distributing relief aid, UN sources told IRIN.
The most affected IDPs were in Kiwandja in Rutshuru territory, about 70km north of Goma, the provincial capital, and in Nyanzale, 60km north of Goma.
"FARDC [the Army] abandoned their headquarters in Nyanzale and a large number of displaced civilians are on the road, fleeing the fighting, which broke out at 7.30am on Thursday [6 November] between FARDC and CNDP [Congrès national pour la défense du peuple]," Madnodje Mounoubai, a spokesman for the UN Mission in Congo (MONUC), told IRIN.
The fighting occurred one week after Nkunda declared a unilateral ceasefire just as his fighters were several kilometres from Goma.
Francesca Fontanini, external relations officer for the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, in Goma, said a "massive food distribution" got under way on 5 November in six UNHCR-run camps for tens of thousands of IDPs.
"A four-truck UNHCR convoy carrying 33 tonnes of various aid items, including plastic sheeting, blankets, kitchen sets and jerry cans crossed Wednesday [5 November] from Rwanda into Goma, the capital of the conflict-hit province in eastern DRC," she said. "The aid, from regional emergency stockpiles in Tanzania, was scheduled for immediate distribution."
According to Fontanini, the food distribution was the first in North Kivu since serious conflict between the Congolese army and Nkunda's fighters sent tens of thousands of displaced people fleeing for their lives. Many IDPS ended up in the six camps.
"The aid operations were made possible following a ceasefire and relative calm over the past few days but reports of fresh fighting on Tuesday [4 November] between the pro-government Mai-Mai militia and Nkunda's forces in the Rutshuru region are threatening to restrict the movement of humanitarian agencies once more," she said.
Earlier in the week, Fontanini said, UNHCR had helped to improve shelter and sanitation facilities at the crowded Kibati IDP camp, which is close to Goma and whose population grew from 15,000 to some 65,000 people in the space of a few days.
The biggest obstacle for humanitarian workers in North Kivu, she said, was the reduced or non-existent access to the most vulnerable civilians.
More than 250,000 people have been displaced since the fighting resumed in August in North Kivu.
[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations ]
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My name is Patrick Vavi, I would like to comment on the DRC situation as I just read the article from my congolese brother living in the USA. I want to make a point that during the month of January this year, the DRC government and all rebels groups or armed groups have signed a peace agrrement known as the Amani process. So far the DRC government is willing to negotiate and has never closed the door of negotiation.The Amani process is the ideal platform to solve the problem, if things are not working in the amani platform let us… [Read Full Text]
Mr. Vavi, in response to your comments; first I would like to tell you that I was very pleased to read your comment as you have demonstrated your patriotism. We both love our country and no one can let his people die for a wrong cause. In order for us to achieve a sustainable development we will need to change our believes. I am an advocate of Peace like Our President Kabila, the man I always support due to his great personality but one thing I know is that this man did all he could to bring peace in our… [Read Full Text]
Hi My name is Ambunga Bin Masoya Patrick, I am the president of Merite Consulting & Management based in Surprise, AZ , USA; I am originally from The Democratic Republic of Congo, and I am originally from The Maniema Province in the Eastern Congo but grew up in Kinshasa. I followed the news from Congo on a daily basis, and expressing my deepest concern about the life of Innocents peoples dying in my Country due to an unjustified war. The solution to the problem in Congo is political not military , because using a weapon will also kill innocent… [Read Full Text]