NEWS > Appeals and Stories > Urgent appeal for Congo's most vulnerable victims > Recent situation update: what cbm is doing
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Recent situation update: what cbm is doingBunia: The war zone is currently situated 70km south of the city; the east, north and west of Bunia are calm at present. With rebel forces that are still very active in their stronghold areas and a government that appears fragile – violent clashes can escalate at any time. Armed forces are using guerrilla tactics in this war, where surprise attacks are constant, unpredictable and a very destructible. The village of Marabo, situated beside the main road connecting Bunia to Kisangani and Butembo, and is a dangerous location with inconsistent but numerous outbreaks of violence. As a result it has become difficult to travel on this road. Since the latest clash in Marabo, most people have not yet returned. The village of Gethy was attacked by rebels in early September, sending many people from the peripheral areas to the Internally Displaced Persons camps kept by UN peacekeepers in the village. Rumours are playing a large part in this warfare, and sustain constant fear amongst locals, preventing their return home.  This is the third time people have been displaced in Bunia in recent years; first during the civil war and ethnic killings; then, again last year when the government fought militiamen; and now Congolese people are once again displaced due to rebel fighting against each other and the army. There are approximately 56,000 registered Internally Displaced People (IDP’s) in Bunia. However, there are an additional estimated 76,000 unregistered IDP’s. Not surprisingly, the Bunia region is filled with large numbers of people with disabilities, particularly physical disabilities. People with disabilities suffer most in conflict as they are not as independent as others, they a re vulnerable, and thus are most likely to be victims of war. cbm is providing shelter for people with disabilities at the Bogoro training centre, prostheses, access to orthopaedic surgery, training and food distribution food when and where necessary. Goma: cbm personnel visited IDP camps in and around Goma last week. People were found to be living in basic huts made from banana leaves. There are communal latrines and baths in addition to water points and people currently receive food rations every 20 days. There are health centres in these camps as well as psychosocial support. The number of IDP’s in these camps changes frequently, with approximately 200 new arrivals from Rutshuru daily. Some IDP’s are moving back to their homes, and several camps have been found empty, with the location of the IDP’s who once occupied them unknown. Therefore the exact number of IDP’s in this area is impossible to know. The last figures given by UN OCHA estimated approximately 84,000 persons living in these camps excluding Minova. Minova is a new camp located about 2 hours from Goma, accommodating 1800 families. The context is very difficult to capture due to almost daily variations in warfare and IDP movement. This is reflected by contradictory reports from different stakeholders (MONUC, OCHA, etc.) in the region. The security situation is still tense with regular outbreaks of fighting. One of the camps (Kibati) will move to Mugunga as it is less than 10 km from the front line and in serious danger from armed forces. Routine activities:  Conflict in the Eastern provinces of North Kivu and Ituri in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is relentless and perpetual. Everyone living and working in the most affected areas have been forced to learn to survive in one of the most volatile environments worldwide. This is the background of cbm’s implementing partners in Goma (the provincial capital of North Kivu) and Bunia (the provincial capital of Ituri). Everyday their activities are carried out against a backdrop of uncertainty and tension. As these tensions developed into crises in recent months, our partners COPH, HEAL Africa and Synergie Simama responded quickly. They have each identified the most vulnerable amongst the displaced populations, and developed strategies to ensure that the needs of those with disabilities are most appropriately met, and that services are equally accessible to them. Each cbm partner is playing a central role in the DRC emergency response operation, drawing on their expertise and knowledge to better assist the most vulnerable. They are working closely with UN agencies and INGO’s present in the region, advising on the needs of people with disabilities. Their work is complementary and forms an integral disability focus to the wider emergency response. |
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