DRC refugee numbers continue to rise

Humanitarian access to some 60,000 to 65,000 refugees from the DRC who are scattered along a 700 km stretch of the Congo and Ubangui rivers inside the Republic of Congo (RoC) was still “very limited”, the UNHCR said on Tuesday. The agency only had access to about 14,000 of the total number of refugees, it estimated last week. UNHCR staff had managed to conduct a mission from Loukolela to Motimobiongoa and Liranga on Saturday, and confirmed the presence of some 2,000 refugees on the RoC shore, between Loukolela and Liranga, UNHCR spokesman Kris Janowski told journalists on Tuesday. Small numbers were reported to be still arriving in all locations downstream from Liranga, allegedly fleeing forced recruitment by the DRC army in Equateur province, across the river from RoC. Access to refugee groups, scattered between Liranga and Njoundou, was virtually impossible because of multiple military checkpoints and armed gangs harassing traffic along the river, Janowski said. The mission found that the food situation was worsening for the refugees, with cassava and corn flour running scarce in both of the towns visited. The market in Liranga had been deserted for weeks and even fish - until recently sold at the market - was now difficult to find, although there was no sign of malnutrition apparent as yet, Janowski said. The UNHCR officials observed many cases of skin diseases, malaria and intestinal conditions, and recommended the construction of proper latrines and the improvement of general hygiene. A contingency plan was being put in place by humanitarian agencies, and UNHCR was attempting to use diplomatic channels to both DRC and RoC governments to secure access and agreement to an operation plan, OCHA reported. Meanwhile, the UNHCR in RoC announced on 27 July that it foresaw the voluntary repatriation of some 15,000 Congolese refugees from Gabon. That process would follow sensitisation campaigns in refugee camps and sites, and with foster families, it said.