Govt hopes to have Pool IDPs home by end of July

With the resumption of administrative activities across the troubled Pool Region in the Republic of Congo, the government has expressed hope that all internally displaced persons (IDPs) would be back in their homes by the end of July. A statement issued by the government on Friday after a ministerial meeting in the capital, Brazzaville, said there had been a steady return of IDPs who had fled fighting in Pool since March 2002. The improved situation in Pool followed a peace agreement signed on 17 March between the government and "Ninja" rebels of Rev Frederic Bitsangou, alias Pasteur Ntoumi, which ended a year of hostilities. Tens of thousands of people fled the region, while fighting trapped many more. Those who escaped were usually able to receive relief support, but humanitarian access to the vast majority left behind in Pool has been sporadic if not impossible. The council of ministers requested that a cost evaluation for the return be conducted, and called on the UN system to help in the exercise. The government also asked relevant authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure a smooth opening of the 2003-2004 schoolyear in October. Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguesso called on all ministers involved in restoring peace in Pool to ensure that all youths handed over weapons in their possession in order to be allowed to return to school. A recent joint UN-NGO-government humanitarian assessment mission to Pool found that food supplies and medicines were in short supply, and that widespread rehabilitation of homes, schools and health centres was needed. The mission also called for food-for-work activities to support the restart of agriculture, rendered nearly impossible during the year-long hostilities.