MONUC's Ituri Brigade facilitates Fataki evaluation mission

A five helicopter-strong reconnaissance mission of the village of Fataki, 85 km northeast of Bunia, the main town of the troubled Ituri District of northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), took place on Monday under the auspices of the UN peacekeeping mission in the country, known as MONUC. MONUC said the objective of the mission was to gain the confidence of local inhabitants, as well as to evaluate the security situation in the village for the future deployment of the Ituri Brigade. MONUC delivered high-energy biscuits, plastic sheeting and first-aid medication, which were distributed to the population by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). It said similar missions were planned in the near future. According to MONUC, some 800 Fataki residents, primarily of the Hema ethnic group, but also Lendu, Alur and Ndo-okebo, emerged from nearby forest upon the mission's arrival and recounted how their village had been repeatedly attacked, particularly on 19 July, 31 July and 5 August by soldiers they said belonged to the Forces Armees Populaires du Congo and the Front des Nationalistes et Integrationnistes militias. MONUC reported that most traditional homes had been completely destroyed, while more permanent structures were torched, after their roofs were removed. Residents told MONUC that the bodies of at least 140 dead villagers had already been buried. MONUC was, however, unable to confirm this. Villagers also told MONUC that a number of Fataki inhabitants had been abducted to the localities of Ali, Aru, Kpakala, Kwandroma and Livo, where they were subjected to forced labour [see earlier IRIN story, "Fataki civilians being held in `labour camps’"]. MONUC said that so far, it had only documented testimonies of escapees from Livo. Several women also came forward to inform MONUC that they had been sexually abused. In addition to MONUC military and civilian personnel, representatives from UNICEF and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation FAO also took part in the mission.