SITUATION REPORT

*UNOCHA, bulletin d’information Humanitaire N° 02/15

IOM DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO Emergency operations and coordination

in the North Kivu Province

BACKGROUND

The security environment in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to be defined by unfolding events in Beni and the announcement of military operations against the FDLR rebel group. The Forces Armée de la République démocratique du Congo (FARDC) continued action through the SOKOLA I operation in the northern part of Beni territory against the ADF/NALU armed rebel group as massacres of civilians continue in the area. With the expiration of the voluntary disarmament ultimatum given to the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) by the Conférence Internationale sur la Région des Grands Lacs (CIRGL) and the Communauté de développement de l'Afrique australe (SADC) (expired on 2nd of January 2015), the FARDC announced the beginning of SOKOLA II operation against the FDLR as of 29 January 2015.

According to the OCHA*, about 157 households (600 individuals) have already fled their villages in Masisi territory and more than 43 000 people are in need of multi-sectoral assistance in Beni and Walikale territories due to the insecurity in Beni and areas occupied by the FDLR. Of particular concern to the humanitarian community are the possible humanitarian consequences of the SOKOLA II operations against the FDLR. In this context, OCHA initiated the development of a contingency plan to which the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) sector contributed in anticipation of a large-scale population movement as a result of the operations.

In Goma town, political tensions remain high. The opposition political parties staged a demonstration in Goma on 22nd January 2015 to denounce the proposed modifications offered in the electoral law and to demand that the DRC government cease “its crackdown down on

opposition members”. Several days of unrest ensued but calm was restored after the defeat of the electoral law.

Within this general context, the Emergency Operations of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) continue. IOM firmly relies on improving protection of IDPs in displacement sites under its coordination. Such protection activities include: capacity building session for 50 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) organized on the 1st December 2014; awareness sessions for 2,742 IDPs organized from the 9th to the 15th December 2014; and, the distribution of 9,927 condoms (9678 male and 249 female condoms) to IDPs. These activities were organized in association with the International HIV/AIDS Day and aimed to reinforce the fight against HIV/AIDS and promote the correct use of condoms particularly in Mugunga1, Bulengo, Lac vert, Nzulo and Buhimba displacement sites.

IOM DRC organized the training of the protection sectorial committees in the above mentioned displacement sites to limit security incidents and increase safety and respect for human rights for IDPs with a particular emphasis on the possible site closure process for Goma-based displacement sites.

IOM DRC also supported the efforts of the Commission Nationale pour les Réfugiés (CNR) to collect IDPs intentions in the event of site closure and in particular on durable solutions proposed by the government. Based on the results obtained, IOM and UNHCR have recently produced and shared a geographical map with the government and the whole humanitarian community. The map allows for a better understanding of the options selected by IDPs in the event of site closure. Options included the transfer to other existing displacement sites, return to their area of origin or installation to a new location within the country.

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UPDATE 17 February 2015

In this issue

IOM DRC’s protection activities in displace-ment sites.

Celebration of the International HIV/AIDS day.

Displacement sites clo-sure in Goma area: IOM DRC’s support to the process.

Training of the IDPs protection committees in Goma, North Kivu, December 2014. © IOM 2014

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IOM DRC’s PROTECTION ACTIVITIES IOM provides assistance to conflict-affected population in DRC in emergency and post conflict context. In its CCCM roles and responsibilities and as a key actor of the protection cluster, IOM DRC relies on improving protection of IDPs in displacement sites.

Key questions that guide the approach of IOM DRC includes: Do IDPs benefit, without any discrimination from physical, juridical and material security? Does assistance provided to them meet international, national and local humanitarian principles? In response to such questions, IOM DRC works closely with the national counterparts to limit security incidents and increase safety and respects for IDPs human rights in displacement sites.

IOM DRC’s mobile protection team works together with the sectorial oversight committees created in all displacement sites and cooperates with the CNR and the Police Nationale Congolaise (PNC) to address all protection-related issues. Insecurity and massive violence are prevented which contributes to the civil character and good order of displacement sites.

A fair access to justice for IDPs is assured in coordination with the site management partners, CNR and other legal bodies. Advocacy against illegal detention and cases of arbitrary arrest of IDPs are also assured and monitored. Further more, victims of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) receive legal assistance and are followed-up with on a regular basis.

IOM’s support to the IDPs protection also relies on the creation of the sectorial protection committees and their capacity building in relevant matters, including their rights and prevention and fight against HIV/AIDS, to reinforce protection of people in general and of IDPs in particular. CELEBRATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL HIV/AIDS DAY: The World AIDS day is held on the 1st of December each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The universal symbol of HIV awareness, the red ribbon, is worn to show solidarity with support being provided to people living with HIV.

For IOM, this day was an opportunity to enrich the knowl-edge of the IDPs living with HIV/AIDS in the displace-ment sites around Goma. This was done through two ac-tivities: capacity building sessions for the IDPs living with HIV/AIDS in displacement sites and the organization of awareness campaigns in displacement sites under IOM coordination in the Goma area.

The topic identified for the protection sectorial committee capacity building was: ‘’prevent and fight against HIV/AIDS and how to correctly use condoms “. This activity was organized on the 1st December 2014 and gathered hundreds of IDPs living with HIV/AIDS from Mugunga1, Bulengo, Lac-vert, Nzulo and Buhimba displacement sites.

The session was facilitated by IOM’s Protection Officer and supported by the Programme National Multisectoriel de lutte contre le VIH/SIDA (PNMLS), the Union Congolaise des personnes vivant avec le VIH/SIDA (UCOP+) and Première Urgence-Aide Médicale Internationale (PU-AMI), IOM’s site management partner.

This capacity building activity will allow IDPs living with HIV/AIDS to adopt an adequate lifestyle for better management of their HIV-positive status in precarious conditions of displacement and prevent other people from being infected.

IOM pursued the Celebration of the International HIV/ AIDS Day the in displacement sites from the 9th to 15th December 2014 by organizing sensitization sessions in Mugunga1, Bulengo, Lac vert, Nzulo and Buhimba displacement sites, facilitated by peer educators composed by IDPs living with HIV/AIDS. A total of 2,742 people have been sensitized on the methods and the correct use of male and female condoms. In addition, 9,927 condoms were distributed to IDPs including 9,678 male condoms and 249 female condoms.

Facilitation of IDPs capacity building session on “HIV/AIDS prevention and the promotion of condom use''. December 2014, Goma, North Kivu. © IOM 2014

IDPs Sensitization in Mugunga1 displacement site

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DISPLACEMENT SITES CLOSURE AROUND GOMA: IOM DRC’S SUPPORT TO THE PROCESS.

Following to the November 2014 decision to progressively close displacement sites in the North Kivu Province starting with the displacement sites around Goma, the CCCM actors made the decision to support government’s efforts in this process while ensuring that the process is conducted in strict accordance with humanitarian principles and that the needs of IDPs are considered and met at all times. In January 2015, the government, through CNR, pursued the closure initiative by collecting intentions and organizing focus groups with IDPs as suggested by humanitarian actors.

IOM DRC conducted trainings of the responsible protection committees within the concerned displacement sites, supported IDPs consultation focus groups, organized, produced and shared the statistics on IDP intentions and produced a geographical map related to IDPs intention collection on Government-proposed durable solution options. The finalization of the information produced from the activities was carried out jointly between IOM DRC, CNR and UNHCR.

Training of the protection committees linked with the displacement sites closure around Goma town.

IOM pursued its efforts in building capacities for IDPs protection around Goma. This activity is part of IOM’s support to the government’s ongoing process of displacement site closure in and around Goma and the overall objective of IOM to seek durable solutions to the protracted situation of displacement in North Kivu Province.

In this perspective, from the 22nd to the 30th December 2014 IOM organized a training session for protection committees in Shasha, Bweremana, Bulengo, Buhimba, Lac-vert and Mugunga 1 displacement sites.

The training session covered a broad range of protection-related topics, including: knowledge about human rights; the rights of displaced persons within their own country; the government’s and the local authorities’ responsibilities; community protection mechanisms; and, specific aspects related to the protection of women and children. The training was provided to 192 leaders at different levels in IDP protection who will be responsible for disseminating the information throughout the displacement sites. The intention behind this training was to ensure that humanitarian principles and international-endowed rights are understood by IDPs living in displacement sites targeted for closure.

Consultation with the IDPs to better prepare for site closure

IOM’s support to a displacement site closure in line with humanitarian principles was also pursued through consulta-

tion focus groups with IDPs organized by CNR from the 8st to the 16st January 2015. These operations allowed CNR to better understand the concerns and fears of the IDPs regarding the process.

The focus group discussions were supported by the Interna-tional Emergency and Development Assistance (IEDA-RELIEF), Première Urgence-Aide Médicale Internationale (PU-AMI) and IOM DRC protection Unit. CNR was able to hold discussions with IDPs according to their age, gender and diversity. These focus groups led to the identification of protection risks to which IDPs would be exposed throughout the closure process. The consultation results were shared with humanitarian com-munity and will be taken into account and integrated in the ongoing displacement site closure process action plan.

Collection of the return intention of IDPs in displace-ment sites linked with the displacement sites closure around Goma town.

In close collaboration with the displaced community and the site manager partners, CNR has collected the intentions of the IDPs in Buhimba, Bulengo, Lac Vert, Mugunga1 and Nzulo (displacement sites coordinated by IOM) and Mugunga 3 (displacement site coordinated by UNHCR). IOM updated its data base and presented the following results compiled with UNHCR:

Of a total of 17,408 individuals living in the displacement sites targeted for closure, 0,7% opted for a transfer to another displacement site, 46.5% considered return to their areas of origin, 2.3% opted for installation in Goma town, and 50.5 % opted for installation outside of Goma town. Based on the results obtained, IOM and UNHCR recently produced and shared the below geographical map showing the trends observed to facilitate the discussion of the activities planed in the area of possible return.

For more information, please contact:

Monique VAN HOOF, Emergency Programme Coordinator, mvanhoof@iom.int +243(0)82 248 7445 Pierre Claver NYANDWI, Site Management and Coordination Advisor, pcnyandwi@iom.int +243(0)82 244 2865 Flora CAMAIN, Information Management Officer, fcamain@iom.int +243(0)81 512 4095 Germain MULUME ODERHWA , Protection Officer, nmulumeoderhwa@iom.int +243 (0)815 77 7705