Is the humanitarian situation in Congo worse than last year or has there been an improvement?

The humanitarian situation is not improving.

Hope was raised at the beginning of the year by joint military operation between the Congolese and Rwandan armies to tackle the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) in eastern Congo, and joint military operations between the Congolese army and the Ugandan army against Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels in northern Congo.

After the Rwanda-Congo Operation, dubbed “UMOJA WETU”, several thousand people could return to their villages.

And over 9000 people out of a population of 185,000 displace people in Province Orientale returned to their homes in Ituri.

The CNDP rebel leader Laurent Nkunda was arrested. And the integration of the militia - CNDP (Nation Congress for People’s Defence) into the national army was completed.

But that hope has been dashed now by reprisal attacks by the FDLR .

Operation “KIMIA II” by the Congolese army with logistical support from UN peacekeepers against FDLR attacks is underway but has failed to protect the population.

The insecurity created by both the attacks and counter-attacks is reducing access by humanitarian agencies such as Caritas to the affected people who are in urgent need.

Soldiers of the Congolese army are not paid regularly, and there are examples of them looting the people they have been sent to protect.

In South Kivu alone, there have been more than 1000 cases of sexual violence since the beginning of 2009.

Hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee since the beginning of the year in North and South Kivu.

The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has attacked in Haut-Uélé and Bas-Uélé provinces. Over 3,500 people had fled to Isiro, provincial capital of Haut-Uele by the end of June. They’re without humanitarian assistance, shelter or healthcare.

By 22 June, 12,175 displaced people were in Dingila, in the territory of Bas-Uélé. This figure represents an increase of 87% of the population of this town, which counted 14.000 inhabitants up to that point.

And 90 percent of the population of the peripheral zones of Nyangara are now concentrated in the districts of the centre of the city since an attack of the LRA of June 17.

What are the acute needs of the people Caritas is trying to help?

The most urgent need is for protection from attack, rape, and plunder.

Armed groups have stolen or burned all the belongings of the population. The affected people need things like food, clothing, kitchen utensils, and shelter. There is also a need for farm tools and support to allow crop growing to resume. There is an urgent need to provide healthcare: medicine and medical equipment have all been stolen and need to be replaced. Schools have been robbed, meaning text books and equipment to teach must be replaced.


US $12 million is a lot of money. What impact do you think it will have?

Yes, $12 million dollars is quite a lot of money. The large amount takes into consideration the great number of people affected that Caritas hopes to support as well as the large challenges we faced.

The Caritas work in North and South Kivu and Province Orientale is vital to save lives of people who are in immediate danger. Caritas will also use the money to rebuild farming and help get people’s lives restarted. The national government has failed in the past to provide for the people, so we must respond. The appeal will have a very positive impact.


Is the appeal about just saving lives or is there some end in sight for the suffering of the Congolese?

The appeal aims to save the lives of the Congolese populations who are caught up in the gears of war in eastern Congo. To tackle the general suffering of the people would cost much more.

People have been forced from their homes with nothing. They have faced mistrust from the places they moved to because the local populations fear they contain rebel fighters. Even children face this prejudice. They have nowhere to go but to war zones, where death, rape, and attacks await them.


How long will it take before the money raised will have an impact?

Once the money is raised, it will be felt immediately on the ground by the people in need. Caritas is present near the people affected through our parish and diocesan structures. This is a major asset for Caritas because we have access to the people in need often in areas which are very hard to reach. Of course, we’re very careful not to endanger the lives of our staff or those receiving aid. To see the affects of the support to restarting farming will take longer – perhaps three months.