Uvira, 8 November 2019 - The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, MONUSCO, led a joint mission to Minembwe on 7 November 2019. Besides MONUSCO representatives, members of the United Nations agencies: OCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), UNHCR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), and WFP (United Nations Food Program) participated in this mission.
The objective of the mission was to assess the status of the protection of civilians as well as the security and humanitarian situation following the displacement of civilians caused by constant intercommunal clashes between armed groups in the Fizi and Uvira ‘’ Haut Plateaux’’.
Observation made on the ground: mutual mistrust is still observed between local communities. Armed groups’ activism poses threats to civilians through killings, cattle theft and arson. Lack of trust between local community and FARDC is also noticed in the region.
On the humanitarian front, IDPs have expressed a strong need for shelter, food and medicine. Internally displaced persons are estimated at 7,330 in and around Minembwe.
After several meetings organized on the spot respectively with the peacekeepers, members of the Municipal Security Council of Minembwe, dignitaries and representatives of the displaced persons, UN delegation received several recommendations; and, the major ones, advocating FARDC operations to be launched against armed groups, assistance to the justice System in fighting impunity, engaging politically with DRC government, donors and UN member states to urge the State to strengthen its involvement in the search for a lasting solution to the conflict.
Other recommendations consist in the identification of community radios and/or other partners with a view to increasing the scope of the Civil Protection activities in the region and assistance to internally displaced persons to be provided by humanitarian workers.