Despite peace efforts, humanitarian situation unimproved - UN

Despite the continuing peace process in the Great Lakes Region of Africa, the overall humanitarian situation has not improved, according to the latest report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), entitled "Affected Populations in the Great Lakes Region". Currently, the region is hosting 1.2 million refugees and 3.4 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) as at 31 July - a 4.6 percent increase since OCHA's last reporting period in February 2002. Movement of rebel groups and ongoing fighting between armed forces in most countries of the Great Lakes Region continue to render humanitarian access to vulnerable populations difficult and sporadic. "Promising developments at the highest political level, however, do not translate directly... into positive human development," the report stated. BURUNDI Although the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in February launched a large-scale repatriation programme from Tanzania of Burundian refugees, only one-quarter of the 80,000 who have so far registered have actually returned, and many have abandoned the programme despite the hostile environment surrounding their camps. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (DRC) A "guesstimated" 20 million vulnerable civilians remain non-assisted and are believed to be in dire need of essential drugs, food, shelter and clean water in the DRC, while rape and sexual violence against women and girls is used as a weapon of war in eastern DRC, as is the abduction of young women for sexual services and domestic labour. REPUBLIC OF CONGO In March, following three years of truce and relative calm, the Republic of Congo faced yet another humanitarian crisis when new fighting broke out between Ninja rebels and government forces in the Pool region. With hardly any resources to recover and reconstruct the country after two years of civil war, the government and development partners have had limited resources to respond immediately to the pressing humanitarian needs. Of 66,000 IDPs in dire need of non-food relief items, an estimated 20,000 in central Pool are currently thought to be cut off from any kind of assistance. RWANDA While new initiatives to promote peace and reconciliation are taking place in Rwanda, such as the Gacaca traditional court system, the ruling party has curtailed political activities, and human rights violations continue to be committed by government forces, the report states. Meanwhile, Rwandan refugees in Tanzania face hostility and intimidation from local authorities, prompting many of them to move to neighbouring countries such as Uganda, Malawi and Mozambique. UGANDA Despite Uganda's drafting of a national strategy on IDPs, the security situation has dramatically deteriorated in recent months, not only delaying prospects of return, but, more regrettably, exacerbating displacement. "To add to the bleak forecast of a poor harvest in many parts of the region, it is anticipated that El Nino will induce further change in climate and weather patterns, which may result in increased food insecurity in the whole region," said OCHA. The Affected Populations in the Great Lakes Region reports are published by OCHA three times per year. [For the complete report, go to: http://www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/2002/ocha-glr-31jul.pdf]