VZCZCXRO7060
OO RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1141/01 2681300
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 251300Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6942
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 5087
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2105
RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0540
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KINSHASA 001141 
 
SIPDIS 
 
ALDAC 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS TO USAID/W 
USAID/DCHA FOR MHESS, GGOTTLIEB 
DCHA/OFDA FOR KLUU, ACONVERY, KCHANNELL, MSHIRLEY 
DCHA/FFP FOR TANDERSON, NCOX, TMCRAE 
DCHA/OTI FOR RJENKINS, KHUBER 
AFR FOR BDUNFORD, CTHOMPSON 
NAIROBI FOR USAID/OFDA/ECARO JMYER, ADWYER 
NAIROBI FOR USAID/FFP DSUTHER 
GENEVA FOR NYKYLOH 
NSC FOR PMARCHAM 
BRUSSELS FOR USAID PLERNER 
NEW YORK FOR TMALY 
USMISSION UN ROME FOR RNEWBERG 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID PREL PHUM CG
 
SUBJECT: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO - NORTH KIVU HUMANITARIAN 
UPDATE 
 
REF:  KINSHASA 01137 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1.  Despite sporadic clashes between various armed groups in North 
Kivu Province, and a generally tenuous security environment, 
humanitarian agencies have begun to survey previously inaccessible 
areas.  Relief officials report varying patterns of displacement, 
with pockets of small-scale returns, areas of new displacement, and 
additional communities in need of emergency assistance.  Relief 
efforts are ongoing in the Goma area, and USAID field staff note 
increased attention to vulnerable communities beyond Goma, plus 
initial progress in coordination among UN and humanitarian 
organizations.  However, the unpredictable security situation 
continues to impede reliable access to affected populations and 
ongoing decision-making delays hamper critical preparedness 
activities in advance of further anticipated displacement.  End 
summary. 
 
-------------------- 
POPULATION MOVEMENTS 
-------------------- 
 
¶2.  UN and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) report that some 
internally displaced persons (IDPs) are returning to areas of origin 
in pockets of eastern North Kivu province following a lull in major 
military activity.  However, sporadic clashes have resulted in some 
new displacement in Rutshuru territory.  In addition, several 
communities displaced since May and June further north in Lubero 
territory have yet to receive assistance due to general insecurity 
and unpredictable access. 
 
¶3.  Relief agencies reported as of late September varying degrees of 
population returns to Nyamilima and Vitsumbi towns in the Rutshuru 
area and to Sake in Masisi.  An interagency assessment mission to 
Nyamilima September 17 cited three reasons for the initial returns: 
the departure from the area of troops loyal to renegade General 
Laurent Nkunda from the mixed Bravo Brigade; the start of the school 
year; and the beginning of planting season.  On September 21, USAID 
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) field staff 
observed increased market activity in Sake following the withdrawal 
of Nkunda's troops three days earlier to positions three kilometers 
from the town (REFTEL).  The vast majority of residents, though, had 
not yet returned.  In contrast, the NGO German Agro Action (GAA) 
reported the return of 1,156 families to Vitsumbi from Kanyabayonga 
in the Rutshuru area. 
 
¶4.  Although UN reports indicate that Nkunda's troops have 
reportedly pulled back from some positions in Rutshuru and Masisi 
territories, thus allowing some populations to return, periodic 
clashes between Nkunda, pro-government, Democratic Liberation Forces 
of Rwanda (FDLR), and Mai-Mai troops continue to uproot communities 
in Rutshuru area.  A mid-September rapid assessment by the NGO 
Solidarites identified the arrival of 4,800 displaced families in 
Kabaya from Inkokwe following fighting between Nkunda and 
pro-government elements.  Solidarites is planning additional 
assessment missions to verify the size and needs of the displaced 
population and to determine appropriate response activities. 
 
¶5.  In southern Lubero territory, a preliminary assessment by GAA 
identified 6,010 families, or approximately 30,050 people, who are 
living with host communities and have yet to receive humanitarian 
assistance since being uprooted by fighting in May and June.  The 
GAA team met with local officials and IDP representatives between 
September 18 and 20 and estimates that 2,586 families in Luofu, 
1,061 families in Kamandi, and 2,363 families in Kanyabayonga 
require immediate assistance.  Armed conflict and banditry have 
 
KINSHASA 00001141  002 OF 003 
 
 
obstructed access and prevented sufficient relief efforts to date. 
 
 
---------------- 
RESPONSE EFFORTS 
---------------- 
 
¶6.  Relief activities are ongoing for displaced populations from 
Masisi and Rutshuru territories in Goma-area settlements.  The UN 
World Food Program, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for 
Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), Solidarites, 
Caritas, and the International Medical Corps are providing emergency 
relief supplies and essential food, water, sanitation and hygiene, 
health, nutrition, and protection services for more than 13,000 
families near Goma.  Solidarites is preparing to construct latrines 
and distribute relief commodities for 2,114 displaced households in 
Mushaki, Masisi territory, on September 25 and 26. 
 
¶7.  While coordinated response efforts are addressing priority needs 
of IDPs currently in the Goma area, government authorities and the 
humanitarian community have yet to identify additional sites for the 
current and potentially growing IDP population.  An unknown number 
of families originally from the Rutshuru area, temporarily displaced 
to a settlement in Munigi, are now distributed between the Munigi 
area, Bulengo camp 15 km west of Goma, and an unofficial site 
between Bulengo and Goma.  Occasional skirmishes in the Masisi and 
Rutshuru areas, plus anticipated continued conflict, indicate a need 
for additional preparedness activities, including the identification 
of possible new settlement areas. 
 
¶8.  The government has approved the expansion of the Bulengo site to 
15 hectares, increasing the physical capacity of the camp to up to 
15,000 people.  UNHCR appears hesitant, however, to exceed 12,000 
people at Bulengo, and relief agencies agree on the need for 
additional sites.  As of September 24, a representative from the 
Ministry of Regional Integration stated that local officials are in 
the process of documenting the need for additional sites, a process 
required to begin identifying possible locations. 
 
¶9.  Regarding response efforts to displaced, vulnerable, and 
conflict-affected populations beyond the Goma area, OFDA field staff 
note that UN and NGO agencies are beginning to conduct needs 
assessments and evaluate security and humanitarian conditions where 
access allows.  As of September 21, several interagency and NGO 
teams were planning visits, or in the process of visiting, Kichanga, 
Mweso, Kalembe, Mushaki, Masisi, and Sake in Masisi territory; 
Kabaya in Rutshuru territory; and Minova in South Kivu province. 
While tenuous security and banditry continue to hinder reliable 
access and limit humanitarian response efforts, these initial 
assessments will prove useful in identifying potential relief 
activities if security and access permit. 
 
¶10.  To support additional response and preparedness efforts, OFDA 
has arranged for the purchase and transport of emergency relief 
supplies for 100,000 people, scheduled to arrive in Goma beginning 
September 24.  The supplies include blankets, plastic sheeting, 
water containers, kitchen sets, soap, and biscuits, and will be 
provided to UNICEF for distribution to affected households. 
 
------------ 
COORDINATION 
------------ 
 
¶11.  Humanitarian coordination has begun to improve following a 
clear division of activities between UNHCR and other UN agencies and 
NGOs.  Earlier overt tension at the daily coordination meetings has 
diminished, and all operational UN and NGO agencies are in the 
process of developing a camp coordination and management strategy, 
facilitated by a visiting UNHCR representative from Geneva. 
 
KINSHASA 00001141  003 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶12.  On September 21, OFDA staff engaged in a frank discussion with 
the UNHCR country representative on the source and impact of recent 
infighting within the humanitarian community in Goma (REFTEL).  OFDA 
staff also urged UNHCR to take the necessary steps to speed up the 
process of identifying and approving additional settlement sites and 
recommended that UNHCR review its rapid response capacity, including 
rapid funding mechanisms and partner relationships.  The UNHCR 
representative indicated plans to reinforce significantly the Goma 
team with additional staff from Kinshasa, and the Geneva delegate 
announced the reorganization of the Goma-level UNHCR team at the 
September 24 coordination meeting.  OFDA staff encouraged the UNHCR 
representative to be mindful of the impact of different distribution 
methods on individuals' decisions to stay at settlement sites or 
return home. 
 
¶13.  COMMENT:  While the decision to divide responsibilities along 
camp lines has led to reduced tension among relief agencies, OFDA 
staff note that the resulting switch to more camp-based registration 
and commodity distributions at Bulengo may encourage non-displaced 
families from nearby areas to set up huts at Bulengo in order to 
receive assistance, and may further discourage displaced households 
from returning to areas of origin when security conditions improve. 
END COMMENT. 
 
 
BROCK