Walikale territory, largely inaccessible, in dire need of aid

A recent humanitarian assessment mission to Walikale territory of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has found populations in dire need of assistance, many thousands of whom remain unreachable due to the presence of numerous armed groups. The 48-hour mission, conducted on 11-13 November, included five UN agencies (UN Children's Fund, World Food Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization, and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) and two NGOs (AVSI and Caritas). Its objective was to establish the general humanitarian situation, following heavy fighting in March 2003 when forces of the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma, a former rebel group that is now party to the DRC's two-year transitional government) ended a six-month occupation of Walikale town by Mayi-Mayi militia forces. It follows an earlier mission, on 17 October, which recommended that greater attention be given to the region. Some 10,000 of Walikale town's estimated population of 15,000 have returned since March, after having sought refuge in surrounding bush for several months, with limited food. Mission participants divided themselves into various thematic areas such as security, food security, education, nutrition and health, given both limited time and access. Security Although outright fighting had subsided, the mission reported that peace had remained elusive, as residents lived in fear of numerous armed groups who continued to pillage their crops. Armed groups in the region included forces of the RCD as well as numerous Mayi-Mayi factions, some of which have refused to engage in dialogue. Mineral wealth in the region has mainly served to fuel conflict in the region and has, therefore, been more of a burden than a blessing to residents, the mission said. Access throughout the 23,000-km2 territory - almost the size of neighbouring Rwanda - remained extremely limited. Food security The mission found that populations were reluctant to resume agricultural activity, as armed groups - including members the loosely-unified national military who receive neither salaries nor food rations - helped themselves to food cultivated by others. Residents depended primarily on food items that required processing, and which were therefore less likely to be pillaged, such as palm oil, rice and soybeans. As populations continued to return, demands for food continued to increase as availability of food supplies continued to decrease. In contrast, in the town of Mubi, a commercial mining centre some 30 km northwest of Walikale, the mission found a much more stable situation, where food supplies were plentiful, if slightly more expensive than in Walikale. Nevertheless, for the town's 20,000 residents, only one unmonitored water spring was available to serve the entire population. The mission recommended a seeds and tools distribution in Walikale town, and that preparations be made for an eventual distribution of fast-growing rice seeds. Support for small-scale fishing activities was also recommended. Nutrition The mission said that while the nutritional situation "did not seem as alarming as one would have expected", nutritional surveys would be needed in order to have more precise information. However, limited access to vast areas of Walikale territory made this impossible for now. The mission also said that other than fish, sources of animal protein were in short supply, as almost no small livestock remained, having been stolen by armed groups. Health The mission visited one of Walikale territory's two health zones, where only one of 24 health centres was found to be fully accessible. The mission found that the health zone was characterised by serious problems in obtaining medical supplies, given poor roads and insecurity; a very low level of vaccination coverage - less than 21 percent; a total breakdown of the cold chain, necessary for keeping certain vaccines chilled; and "very weak" epidemiological monitoring and reporting. Of particular concern was the fact that anti-polio vaccinations had not taken place in the past two years - despite the fact that the region had experienced a major outbreak of polio as recently as 1998, when some 500 cases were recorded. Furthermore, the population had become so impoverished that they were largely unable to afford what scant healthcare was available. Education Similarly, the state of the territory's education system was found to be largely devastated: all schools were found to be seriously damaged, while many had been completed pillaged and destroyed during recent years of occupation both by various armed groups as well as by waves of IDPs and refugees. Although steadily increasing as residents returned, school attendance figures were found to be "very low": the mission estimated that some 40 percent of school-age children did not attend school at all, with girls constituting a majority of absentees. Of eight schools visited, none had a source of running water, and only two were equipped with latrines, making the risk of disease "enormous", according to the mission. In certain inaccessible areas, such as Pinga-Ikobo, Mpofi-Kashebere and Itebero, the mission learned that schools had completely ceased to function for the past five years. However, on a positive note, the mission noted two factors that could facilitate rehabilitation of the education sector: first, that levels of community participation were already very high; and second, that key building materials, such as wood and stone, were locally available. Logistics The logistical situation of Walikale town and surrounding areas was found to be particularly desperate: not a single warehouse capable of storing relief supplies existed, and in the town itself, there was only one vehicle capable of heavy transport, belonging to a religious community. Furthermore, Walikale has no airport, although small planes can land on a 700-m long, six-metre-wide strip of road some 22 km outside of town. Use of large cargo planes would therefore be impossible. General recommendations The mission called for a rapid deployment of the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, MONUC, both for implementation of a disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programme, as well as for much-needed logistical support - air and land - for humanitarian relief efforts. Likewise, it called for the establishment of a centre for demobilized child soldiers without families to which they could return. Training of local NGOs in the guiding principles for IDPs, as well as censuses to establish population numbers and needs, was recommended. Having learned of the presence of Rwandan refugees in the region, the mission called on the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, which was unable to participate in this assessment, to set up transit centres for the protection and eventual repatriation of the refugees. Finally, the mission called on military and administrative authorities to engage armed groups in dialogue with a view to restoring security and access throughout the territory.