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United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) teams have recently been able to access the eastern area of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ravaged by months of conflict between the Hema and Lendu. On the spot, they met 150,000 previously displaced people who have now returned home in the hope of finding their homes.
"The living conditions are harsh," said UNHCR spokesman Charlie Yaxley. during a press briefing on Friday 13 July in Geneva. According to him, nearly 350,000 people have fled the violence, and those who have returned home find in many cases, villages and houses burned to the ground – perpetuating their status as displaced.
"Our team heard about place of horrifying information of barbaric violence, including armed groups attacking civilians with rifles, arrows and machetes. She also received testimonies about entire villages razed, farms and shops looted and damaged without hope of repair, "said the spokesman.
On the spot, the humanitarian challenges are enormous, with hospitals, schools and other important infrastructure completely destroyed. UNHCR is particularly concerned about the number of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition who are in urgent need of medical care
Meanwhile, conditions at IDP sites are in desperate straits. In many places there is no safe water, no access to health care and inadequate sanitation. According to UNHCR, the situation is particularly worrying at the IDP site near Bunia General Hospital, where there is a significant risk of spreading diseases. "There, the death rate has increased. Several people were declared dead in June, as the number of people suffering from respiratory diseases and anemia increases rapidly, "notes Charlie Yaxley.
Meanwhile, UNHCR provides returnees and displaced persons with kits emergency shelter to temporarily replace damaged or destroyed homes. The UN agency also provides cash grants to meet the immediate needs of vulnerable IDPs. Some 1,500 families received an average of about $ 210, depending on the size of their homes.
In addition, UNHCR also stepped up its community engagement work to improve social cohesion among different ethnic groups.
However, these efforts continue to be hampered by a lack of funds. The humanitarian appeal for the DRC continues to be "among the least funded in the world". To date, UNHCR has received only 17 per cent of the $ 201 million requested for its Congolese operations. In these circumstances, the UN agency urges the international community to provide additional funds and to take urgent measures to meet the immediate needs of those who have been affected by the violence.
With UN Info [19659010]
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