VZCZCXRO2669
OO RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1208/01 2910636
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 180636Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7022
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 5103
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2118
RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0554
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001208 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
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 MOPS PHUM PREL CG
 
SUBJECT: HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE TO RENEWED CLASHES IN NORTH KIVU 
 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1.  Fighting has escalated in areas of North Kivu since dissident 
General Nkunda announced a renewed military offensive against 
Congolese armed forces on October 8.  As of October 10, clashes are 
ongoing in three locations in Masisi and Rutshuru territories. 
Relief agencies report some new population displacements in southern 
Rutshuru , although residents had previously fled affected towns in 
southern Masisi, minimizing additional movements to date.  The 
current insecurity is hampering some humanitarian response efforts 
for conflict-affected populations beyond the Goma area.  In light of 
the evolving situation, UN and relief agencies are reviewing 
contingency plans.  End summary. 
 
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RENEWED MILITARY OFFENSIVE 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2.  On October 8, dissident General Laurent Nkunda announced a 
renewed military offensive against government forces in North Kivu. 
Fighting has escalated since the announcement, and is ongoing along 
three fronts in Masisi and Rutshuru territories as of October 10, 
according to the UN Mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo 
(MONUC).  Troops loyal to Nkunda reportedly initiated the conflict 
in two of the locations, specifically in several towns surrounding 
Mushake in southern Masisi and between Kichanga and Kashuga in 
northern Masisi.  In addition, MONUC reports that government forces 
launched an offensive near Bunagana, along the Congo-Uganda border 
in Rutshuru. 
 
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HUMANITARIAN IMPACT 
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¶3.  The fighting has reportedly displaced several thousand people in 
Rutshuru, but additional displacement in Masisi is so far limited as 
many residents had fled previous clashes in August and September. 
Preliminary reports indicate 2,140 families have arrived in Rugari 
from the Rumanbago area of southern Rutshuru, and several hundred 
families are arriving in Shasha, Kikuku, and Nyanzale towns from the 
fighting in Masisi.  In addition, an estimated 300 families have 
arrived in temporary settlement sites west of Goma in the past 
several days.  USAID field staff note that timely and accurate 
information on population movements and humanitarian conditions is 
difficult to obtain owing to insecurity and limited access, as well 
as the distribution of displaced persons between spontaneous 
settlements and host families. 
 
¶4.  As of October 10, relief operations are ongoing for internally 
displaced persons in Goma-area settlement sites.  However, MONUC 
escorts are currently unavailable for assessments or response 
activities, thereby delaying planned interventions throughout Masisi 
and Rutshuru by Goma-based relief agencies.  A UN World Food Program 
(WFP) convoy remains in Masisi town as of October 10, after 
delivering 100 metric tons (MT) of emergency food aid, owing to 
insecurity along the route back to Goma.  The fighting has also led 
WFP to postpone the distribution of 313 MT of food aid, planned for 
18,800 displaced persons between Kitembo and Minova on October 10. 
 
 
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RESPONSE 
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¶5.  UN and relief agencies are in the process of reviewing and 
updating contingency plans based on the evolving security and 
humanitarian situation in North Kivu Province.  On October 5, MONUC 
advised non-governmental relief organizations to update emergency 
 
KINSHASA 00001208  002 OF 002 
 
 
contingency plans covering response priorities and evacuation 
procedures.  On October 10, MONUC presented a draft contingency 
strategy to the humanitarian community based in Goma. 
 
¶6.  USAID Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance staff are closely 
monitoring the humanitarian situation in North Kivu, and 
coordinating with partner relief agencies regarding continued 
emergency assistance where security and access allow. 
 
BROCK