DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

Transcription

1 DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO INITIAL OBJECTIVES Support the Government in the establishment of the National Eligibility Commission, and to carry out registration exercises of accessible refugees. Provide international protection and humanitarian assistance to refugees from Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic (CAR), the Republic of the Congo (RoC), Rwanda, Sudan and Uganda, and urban refugees of different nationalities in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma and Bukavu. Promote self-reliance activities and reinforce local settlement initiatives for existing refugees with a gradual phaseout of UNHCR s assistance. Continue to provide basic humanitarian assistance to new arrivals. Organise and facilitate the safe return of refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) when the situation in their respective countries of origin permits. Conditions permitting, promote and facilitate the return and reintegration of refugees in the neighbouring countries to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. other non-signatories to the agreement, created an alliance for the continuation of dialogue. In spite of the progressive implementation of the cease-fire agreement, conflicts continue to flare up regularly in various parts in DRC, but in particular in north eastern DRC and in the Kivus. Volatility and insecurity continue to characterise the working environment in DRC, and conditions for voluntary repatriation of 380,000 Congolese, mainly from neighbouring countries, remain adverse. The unexpected end of the prolonged war in Angola, in February 2002, was followed by a cease-fire agreement, signed on 4 April, which triggered spontaneous return movements, especially from the Bas-Congo Province and the Kisenge region. By the end of June, 6,330 refugees had spontaneously left these areas for Angola. At present, UNHCR offices in the Provinces of Bas- Congo, Bandundu and Katanga are registering Angolans willing to repatriate. UNHCR, with its partners, is providing support as far as possible to spontaneously returning Angolans, while preparing for more organised returns on a larger scale in MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS, PROGRESS ACHIEVED, AND CONSTRAINTS During the reporting period, additional steps were taken towards the implementation of the Lusaka cease-fire agreement. The Inter- Congolese Dialogue was eventually held between February and April and resulted in the signing of an agreement uniting 70 per cent of the country. It is noteworthy that the Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie (RCD) Goma remains outside of the agreement and has, together with UNHCR Mid-Year Progress Report The eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano, in the Province of North Kivu, in January, caused a two-month discontinuation of activities of UN and international agencies operating in Goma. UNHCR transferred its national and international staff temporarily to Bukavu and Nairobi. On the positive side, this eruption brought renewed international media and donor attention to this calamitous region. In April 2002, the renewed conflict between Government forces and the military group ("Ninjas") in the Republic of the Congo

2 caused Congolese to seek refuge mainly in Luozi in the Province of Bas-Congo. At June 2002, UNHCR assisted some 176,190 refugees out of a total of 347,060 in DRC. During the first half of 2002, UNHCR was providing humanitarian assistance to Angolan refugees in the provinces of Katanga, Bas-Congo, and in Bandundu. In response to the political changes in Angola, UNHCR is shifting its focus of activities towards the monitoring and facilitation of return movements, and is presently reviewing its existing tri-partite repatriation agreements. In parallel, recent confrontations between the Angolan Government forces and opposition factions in the Province of Cabinda have caused a number of new arrivals in the district of Matadi, Bas-Congo Province. UNHCR's self-sufficiency strategy has progressively borne fruit. Through interventions with the local authorities, 900 ha of agricultural land has been assigned to beneficiaries in Kilueka (Bas-Congo). To improve accessibility to the refugees, three bridges were constructed and one rehabilitated in Kimvula. In addition, one health centre was constructed and another is under construction. UNHCR successfully introduced a cost-recovery system in lieu of free medical assistance for the remaining Angolans (Bamako initiative). To support the self-sufficiency activities, bean, soja, corn and various vegetable seeds as well as manioc cuttings were distributed. As in earlier years, operations were hampered by abysmal road conditions and bridges. This results in rapid deterioration of UNHCR s vehicles and those of its implementing partners. In addition, the scarcity of spare parts on the local market, coupled with the high prices and the large amount of time needed to import such goods lead to long delays in maintenance and upkeep of vehicle fleets. This also hampers the spontaneous return movement. Due to lack of resources (staffing, vehicles, equipment) there was inadequate monitoring of return movements and follow-up in respect of illicit taxation at the border, excessive visa requirements and the voluntariness of the repatriation. The Angolan refugees have very limited resources as the last harvest was generally poor. This came at a bad time as a WFP/UNHCR joint food assessment mission, undertaken in April, recommended to substantially diminish food assistance in anticipation of improved self-sufficiency. While the vast majority of refugees from RoC have repatriated, a group of some 1,800, mainly former public servants, remain in Kimaza camp (Bas-Congo) for fear of persecution upon their return. The reemerging conflict in the Pool region caused new displacements inside the country and into DRC territory. Following the reports of local authorities that some 2,229 Congolese recently arrived in the Province of Bas- Congo, UNHCR deployed missions to the area to assess the needs and provide assistance to them. UNHCR successfully negotiated with the local authorities an allocation of 80 ha cultivable land for the local settlement of the refugees. 380 cuttings of manioc, 1.2 MT of soja and 3 MT of peanut seeds were distributed to the refugees. In light of the previously anticipated repatriation of the refugees and the closure of the camp, WFP planned to stop its food assistance at the end of July The bad condition of the road leading to Kimaza camp further constituted a handicap for the delivery of assistance. 42,920 out of a total of 75,430 Sudanese refugees were assisted with agricultural and income-generating activities with the aim that they would achieve self-sufficiency. Newly arrived refugees in Doruma were provided with basic non-food items. 137 km of roads and three bridges as well as 14 wells were rehabilitated to assure access to potable water. Seven medical centres provide health assistance to refugees and three health structures were constructed. A block of six classrooms was built in Dungu area. During the reporting period, 3,538 children were enrolled in primary school (41 UNHCR Mid-Year Progress Report

3 per cent girls), and 299 adolescents (14 per cent girls) pursued secondary education. 792 refugees, among them 539 women, benefited from micro projects. 37 unaccompanied minors were identified and registered for foster care arrangements and further family tracing. UNHCR repatriated 69 Sudanese refugees, mainly merchants from northern Sudan who were trapped by the resurgence of the war in southern Sudan. Following the re-formation of rebel movements in control of the area of Boga (Province Oriental), UNHCR gained access to and was able to register 3,990 Ugandan refugees and provide assistance to them. However, UNHCR still has no access to some 10,000 Ugandan refugees in Beni due to security concerns. The area is characterised by low representation of other international agencies and organisations. The overall security situation has been exacerbated by the presence of several rebel groups operating separately in the area. Security problems also prevents UNHCR from being in a position to assist an estimated 19,000 Burundian refugees dispersed throughout the two Kivu Provinces. UNHCR assisted about 300 prima facie refugees previously registered in the cities of Bukavu and Goma with rental subsidies, food, support for primary and secondary education and vocational training for adults. UNHCR also financed microprojects, for women in particular. Although an increasing number of the urban refugees are registering for voluntary repatriation, UNHCR does not facilitate their return due to the prevailing security conditions in their places of origin. Urban Burundian refugees are subjected to detention, arrest and questioning as a result of their status. Some of them have been reportedly threatened with refoulement by local authorities. UNHCR often intervenes on behalf of the refugees to ensure their international protection. An estimated 35,000 Rwandan refugees are dispersed in villages and in the forest in the North/South Kivu and Maniema Provinces. As UNHCR has no direct access to these refugees, activities continue to focus on repatriation. During the first half of 2002, some 4,390 Rwandans were assisted with voluntary repatriation. Prior to their departure, the refugees received food, essential medical care, and non-food items, such as blankets and clothes, and then they were transported to the border. Of the repatriates, 185 were unaccompanied minors who were reunified with their families in Rwanda. In order to upgrade the repatriation facilities, UNHCR constructed two new repatriation assembly points and one transit center and rehabilitated 11 existing assembly points. Two main access roads were also rehabilitated in Bukavu. Hostage taking" of refugees by combatant forces and "parallel" repatriation carried out by Rwandan military drive the refugees further away from assembly points. The non-accessibility of the refugees makes it difficult for the Office to discharge its international protection responsibility. Persistent insecurity in certain areas, mainly in Shabunda, did not allow UNHCR to open a site to receive refugees willing to repatriate from the area. This had been planned for in There are also difficulties in locating, identifying and registering unaccompanied minors as they are dispersed in insecure areas in the North and South Kivu Provinces. The discontinuation of activities that resulted from the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano in Goma, also led to delays in the signing of agreements and the implementation of activities. A registration exercise is planned for July 2002, to assess the number of Central African refugees in the Equateur Province. During the reporting period 5,820 refugees were transferred to the recently constructed site in Mole. A health centre and 29 primary school classes have been built. The classes received 920 pupils. A spring water system was put in place and 1,700 dwellings were built by the refugees. Seeds, farming tools and other material were distributed to 1,200 heads of families to cultivate the 10,000 ha of farming land provided by the local UNHCR Mid-Year Progress Report

4 authorities. A food distribution centre has been built to facilitate food distribution. Although the 35 km road from Zongo to Mole has been rehabilitated, logistics continues to hamper monitoring and assistance activities. In Kinshasa, UNHCR provided humanitarian assistance to 3,000 urban refugees, mainly Angolan, with basic domestic items, rental subsidies, subsistence allowances, micro-credits, tuition fees, grants for university studies and vocational training and health care, according to their needs. The accommodation center for unaccompanied minors in Kinshasa was Progress as measured against indicators Impact/Performance Indicators 2,500 Angolan refugees per month are repatriated with UNHCR assistance. Good level of co-operation between local officials and UN staff is reached. 500 northern Sudanese refugees repatriated with UNHCR s assistance to their areas of origin. 100 per cent of urban refugee children attend national schools and benefit from UNHCR assistance (regular and timely payment of school fees). 1,250 Burundese and 500 Rwandan refugees are repatriated per month. closed in June, following the voluntary repatriation of the majority of the children housed there. UNHCR's accommodation centre in Lubumbashi received an additional 100 Burundian and Rwandan refugees from other parts of DRC bringing the number of assisted refugees to a total of 790. Improved facilities were identified for the accommodation of the refugees in the outskirts of the city and the refugees transferred there. Budgetary constraints did not allow complete refurbishment of the premises in order to cater for the increasing number of refugees. Actual Progress 295 Urban refugees were repatriated to Luanda (by plane), in addition, 6,332 Angolans (i.e. 1,266 per month) returned spontaneously between February and June. Throughout DRC, 36 cases of refugee detention were resolved (refugees were released from destinations) after UNHCR s intervention with local officials. 169 Sudanese were repatriated to northern Sudan (by plane). 100 per cent of refugee children eligible for primary school were able to attend national or refugee schools (UNHCR provided school fee, materials, schools rehabilitated). In the first half of 2002, 4,407 (i.e. a monthly average of over 700) Rwandese refugees were repatriated. No Burundian refugees were repatriated. Rape/Criminal cases are reduced by 60 per cent Following similar initiatives previously undertaken in Kinshasa, 80 individuals, including refugee women, government representataives, army personnel and implementing partners participated in three courses in sites in Bas-Congo and Katanga provinces raising awareness about, and seeking to prevent SGBV. The number of reported rape cases appears to be low. However, it is an achievement that such cases are now reported at all. UNHCR Mid-Year Progress Report

5 REVISED OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITY ACTIVITIES FOR JULY- DECEMBER 2002 For the second half of the year, UNHCR will ensure the registration of refugees and in particular, will adapt its objectives to the recent developments in Angola and will pursue the following activities: Refugees from Angola and the Republic of the Congo Within given budgetary and operational constraints, monitor spontaneous return movements to Angola. When feasible, provide assistance packages. Undertake preparatory activities for more organised repatriation movements anticipated for Participate in the regional repatriation planning process for return of Angolan refugees. Provide food for the remaining months of the year due to WFP's discontinuation of assistance to the Angolan and Congolese refugees. Assess the sustainability of self-sufficiency measures for those who opt to remain in DRC. Implement a sensitisation campaign for the RoC refugees to alert them to the fact that UNHCR intends to phase out assistance activities by the end of Foster self-reliance activities for all while maintaining the possibility of voluntary repatriation. Financial Data (USD) Annual Programme Budget Total Funds Obligation Initial Budget Revised Budget Available Level 23,374,952 30,593,531 15,041,005 14,516,730 UNHCR Mid-Year Progress Report