THOUSANDS DISPLACED AS NEW FIGHTING ERUPTS BETWEEN CONGOLESE MILITIA AND RWANDAN REBEL GROUP

THOUSANDS DISPLACED AS NEW FIGHTING ERUPTS BETWEEN CONGOLESE

MILITIA AND RWANDAN REBEL GROUP

NEW YORK, 4 November (OCHA) -- Fighting that erupted on Friday between the Mayi-Mayi militia and a Rwandan rebel group in South Kivu Province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, has resulted in the displacement of thousands of civilians.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that between 2,000 and 4,000 internally displaced persons sought refuge in Mwenga.  Some were reportedly staying with host families while others were temporarily settled in sites set up by local authorities.

The new round of displacement follows a recent humanitarian needs assessment mission conducted jointly by several United Nations agencies in South Kivu.  The mission found widespread humanitarian needs in the region from Uvira to Fizi, which lies south of Mwenga.  The region's population is estimated to be about 375,000 people, including 76,500 internally displaced persons, 44,500 internal returnees and 5,000 returnees from neighbouring Tanzania, many of whom had been refugees for five to seven years.  Hundreds if not thousands of Rwandan refugees who wished to remain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were also reported.

Although a greater sense of security seemed to have returned among the population due to a number of local peace initiatives, residents had expressed apprehension about the possibility of renewed hostilities, given a wide range of armed elements in the region.  A considerable number of people remained displaced in inaccessible areas, with no intention of returning to their homes until all military actors could guarantee their security.

Food insecurity was found to be closely linked to continued insecurity; although the region is very fertile, many people refused to resume the cultivation of their fields, the systematic pillage of crops having become common practice among armed groups.  On top of that, the steady return of internally displaced persons and refugees had placed a considerable burden on already food-insecure populations.  Malnutrition was clearly visible among populations the mission could visit.  The mission recommended urgent distribution of seeds and tools in tandem with food relief to prevent consumption of seeds.  Road repair will also be necessary to transport harvests from fields to markets.

For further information, please call Stephanie Bunker +917 367 5126 (OCHA New York), Elizabeth Byrs +41 22 917 2653 (OCHA Geneva).

* *** *