ReliefWeb: Updates by Country

05.03.2024 20:20 Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development Depuis novembre 2023 les combats se sont intensifiés dans la province du Nord Kivu à l’Est de la République Démocratique du Congo entre les forces gouvernementales et les combattants du mouvement du 23 mars . Cette nouvelle vague de violence a entrainé le déplacement de plus d’un million de personnes aggravant la situation humanitaire déjà catastrophique dans l’Est du pays. Ces déplacements massifs de populations, touchant majoritairement des femmes, enfants et personnes âgées, plongent dans une grande vulnérabilité les personnes déplacées et les communautés d’accueil. L’accès aux besoins essentiels en nourriture, eau, santé, éducation, abris et protection est entravé par cette intensification du conflit. Cependant ce conflit n’impacte pas seulement la province du Nord Kivu. En effet au mois d’octobre 2023, le Sud-Kivu dénombrait plus de 40 000 personnes déplacées internes ayant fui les combats, principalement vers son territoire de Kalehe . Pour le seul mois de janvier 2024, ce sont 45 000 nouveaux déplacés qui sont arrivés dans ce territoire. Pour répondre à la crise, les équipes de réponse rapide d’Acted, présentes au Sud Kivu depuis 2003, se sont déployées sur le terrain dès le 15 janvier 2024 pour mener une série d’évaluation à travers des enquêtes d’évaluation des besoins multisectoriels afin de faire la sélection des bénéficiaires. Ces évaluations permettent à Acted d’identifier l’aide la plus adaptée à apporter aux populations déplacées et communautés hôtes affectées par le conflit. Acted accorde également une attention particulière aux besoins des communautés hôtes, dont beaucoup deviennent des familles d’accueil pour les personnes déplacées, ce qui exerce une pression supplémentaire sur leurs ressources matérielles et financières. A la suite de ces enquêtes, Acted, grâce au soutien du Bureau for Humanitarian Action , prévoit d’apporter dans les prochaines semaines une réponse rapide multi-sectorielle pour couvrir les besoins vitaux en nourriture, en eau, en articles d’hygiènes et en articles ménagers essentiels de 5 000 ménages . Chaque ménage sélectionné se verra recevoir un transfert monétaire accompagné de kits en nature dont des kits d’hygiène menstruelle pour l’hygiène des adolescentes et des femmes.

05.03.2024 20:20 Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Please refer to the attached file.

05.03.2024 20:20 Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Please refer to the attached file.

05.03.2024 20:20 Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Please refer to the attached file.

05.03.2024 11:20 Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development Since November 2023, fighting has intensified in North Kivu province in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo between government forces and fighters from the March 23 movement . This new wave of violence has led to the displacement of over a million people, worsening the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in the east of the country. These massive population displacements, mainly affecting women, children and the elderly, leave displaced people and host communities extremely vulnerable. Access to essential needs such as food, water, health, education, shelter and protection is hampered by this intensification of the conflict. However, the conflict is not confined to North Kivu province. In October 2023, South Kivu counted more than 40,000 internally displaced people who had fled the fighting, mainly to its territory of Kalehe. In January 2024 alone, 45,000 new IDPs arrived in this territory. To respond to the crisis, Acted’s rapid response teams, present in South Kivu since 2003, deployed to the field on January 15, 2024 to carry out a series of multi-sectoral needs assessment surveys in order to select beneficiaries. These assessments enable Acted to identify the most appropriate aid to bring to displaced populations and host communities affected by the conflict. Acted also pays particular attention to the needs of host communities, many of which become host families for displaced people, putting additional pressure on their material and financial resources. Following these surveys, Acted, with the support of the Bureau for Humanitarian Action , plans to provide a rapid multi-sectoral response in the coming weeks to cover the vital needs in food, water, hygiene items and essential household goods of 5,000 households . Each selected household will receive a cash transfer accompanied by in-kind kits, including menstrual hygiene kits for adolescent girls and women.

05.03.2024 03:00 Countries: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached Infographic. Aperçu de la situation La population réfugiée en RDC est de 523 426. Les activités : d'enregistrement continu, des nettoyages des données se poursuivent dans les differents sites. 3 155 demandeurs d'asile sont enregistrés en attente d'une reconnaissance. Aucun rapatriement vers ou en dehors de la RDC n'a été observé, toutefois 125 personnes sont parties en réinstallation en janvier.

04.03.2024 19:10 Countries: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Niger, Nigeria Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Please refer to the attached Infographic.

04.03.2024 19:10 Countries: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Niger, Nigeria Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Please refer to the attached Infographic.

04.03.2024 19:10 Countries: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached Infographic.

04.03.2024 19:10 Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project Please refer to the attached file. Author: Ladd Serwat As Rwanda-backed and allied fighters push toward North Kivu’s capital city of Goma, ACLED is recording a sharp rise in the use of explosives, remote violence, and the direct engagement of Rwandan military forces. The total number of political violence events in 2024 involving the Rwanda Defense Force — primarily clashes against Congolese military forces and allied armed groups — has already surpassed the total for the entire year of 2023. The surge in violence toward Goma, along with Rwandan leaders’ recent remarks about their , increasingly signals the rebels’ . If successful, this would be the M23’s second occupation of Goma, after the group briefly seized control of the economic hub in late 2012. Fragile peace agreements between the M23 and the Kinshasa government broke down in October 2023, and by the end of the year, the M23 had become the most active non-state armed group in the DR Congo . In January, the use of explosives and remote violence — primarily shelling and air strikes — quadrupled compared to the average for 2023. Half of these explosive and remote violence events involved the M23 and Rwandan troops. In recent months, Congolese military forces and supporting armed groups were also involved in an increasing number of explosive and remote violence events. The United Nations called on the M23 to cease given the danger to civilians in populated areas around Goma. Since October 2023, at least 55 civilians have reportedly been killed by explosives, shelling, and aerial bombardments in North Kivu province.

04.03.2024 19:10 Countries: Angola, Burundi, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached file. $298.9 million UNHCR's financial requirements 2023 40% funded The financial requirements of the DRC Situation include requirements in Angola, Burundi, Democratic Rep of the Congo, Rwanda, The Republic of the Congo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia. The percentage funded and total funding amount are indicative based on the methodology described above. This leaves an indicative funding gap of $178,926,131 representing 60% of the financial requirements.

04.03.2024 19:10 Countries: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached Infographic.

04.03.2024 19:10 Countries: Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached Map. Points clés La RDC est le pays avec la plus grande population de déplacés internes en Afrique. La RDC accueille plus de 0,5 millions de réfugiés et de demandeurs d'asile. L'absence d'un système d'enregistrement civil approprié expose de nombreuses personnes au risque d'apatridie en RDC. Le HCR rejoint le Programme d'identité juridique des Nations Unies pour aider le gouvernement de la RDC à mettre en place un système d'enregistrement solide qui soit inclusif pour tous les types de populations, garantissant que personne n'est laissé pour compte.

04.03.2024 19:10 Countries: Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, Zambia Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached Map.

01.03.2024 21:51 Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: Médecins Sans Frontières A look inside a hospital in eastern DR Congo, where children are falling victim to a resurgence of violence between armed groups. Ituri province, eastern , has been gripped for decades by recurring cycles of violence. In response to critical medical needs, last June Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières set up a center specializing in trauma surgery and post-surgical care at Salama Hospital in Bunia. One-third of the 863 patients we treated between June and December 2023 were direct victims of the violence. Since mid-February, there has been a resurgence of attacks by armed groups in Ituri, many targeting civilians. The result has been large numbers of casualties, especially among women and children. By Soaade Messoudi, MSF communications advisor Entering the grounds of Salama Hospital in Bunia, immediately one is struck by the bustling activity: outside, the families of patients are cooking and washing their dishes in large plastic buckets; inside, the corridors are busy and every single room is occupied. Many of the patients have very visible injuries—some have painful-looking external fixators on their arms, shoulders, or legs; others have limbs in plaster or bandages on their bodies. The focus of MSF’s center at Salama Hospital is trauma surgery and orthopedic care, but our teams also treat victims of burns and road accidents—a decision driven by the significant prevalence of these types of injuries and the absence of specialist medical care for these patients elsewhere in the province. A boy yearns to walk As we are shown around the hospital by a doctor, the persistent and heart-wrenching cries of a child pierce the air. Unable to ignore the distressing sound, I look through a door and see a little boy of about five sitting on a bed beneath a mosquito net. "Why is he crying?" I ask. A nurse explains that the boy, who has serious burns on his legs and chest from a domestic accident, desperately wants to get up and check if he will still be able to walk properly. However, his grandmother, seated next to him, has said no, following the doctors’ general advice that he should stay in bed, sitting down or lying with his legs out straight. The doctor suggests to the grandmother that letting the child use his legs will do him no harm, and she relents. The boy is gently lifted from the bed by his grandmother and the nurse. With cautious steps, he walks slowly across the room, looking like a little old man. The sense of relief on his face is palpable. As we offer encouragement and applause, his mood visibly lifts. When we leave the room with a wave, he has a smile on his face. A grandmother and toddler attacked Further down the corridor, we meet another child, two-year-old Christelle.* She is nestled in the arms of her mother, finding comfort amid the hospital's noise and bustle. Christelle and her mother Clarisse* come from Drodro village, which was recently the scene of intercommunal violence. At first glance, nothing appears to be wrong with the child, but then her mother tells their story, which is nothing short of horrifying. “Christelle fell victim to an attack by an armed group on my village,” says Clarisse. “Suddenly, I saw a group of men entering the courtyard where I was sitting with my five children and their grandmother. When I realized they were heavily armed with guns and carried machetes, I got scared and quickly gathered my children in panic. I grabbed the hands of my oldest daughter and another of my children and ran without looking back.” Suddenly, I saw a group of men entering the courtyard where I was sitting with my five children and their grandmother. CLARISSE*, MOTHER OF AN MSF PATIENT Clarisse pauses and gulps for breath, avoiding eye contact and visibly traumatized. “I managed to reach and enter the house of our neighbors, but the children’s grandmother reached the house too late. The armed men seized her and cut off her arm with a machete. Christelle cried out in fear and tragically also fell victim to the ruthless men, who tried to kill her with a machete.” Christelle sustained deep cuts to her back, thighs, and one arm. Her seriously injured grandmother managed to flee to the bush to hide. “From the window of the house, I could see the armed men roaming around our neighbors’ houses further down the street,” says Clarisse. “I quickly went out to take my wounded child inside, then I went to retrieve grandmother, and we locked ourselves in the house again until late in the evening. When the armed men left the village, we sought help and were escorted by MONUSCO to MSF’s health facility in Drodro, where we were immediately transferred to the hospital here in Bunia.” Looking at the child in her mother’s arms, I am horrified by what she has experienced. No child should go through this suffering and trauma. SOAADE MESSOUDI, MSF COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR Looking at the child in her mother’s arms, I am horrified by what she has experienced. No child should go through this suffering and trauma. Yet women and children bear the brunt of the conflict in eastern DRC, with horrific violations committed on a daily basis. According to the UN, DRC is one of the five conflict zones with the highest numbers of serious violations against children, alongside , , , and . MSF’s project has played an important role in saving lives while offering tailored and quality care to reduce the level of functional disability that patients might otherwise face for the rest of their lives. *Names have been changed About MSF’s work in DRC With a total capacity of 45 beds, MSF's trauma and orthopedic care center in Bunia serves as a crucial health care hub for the people of Ituri province, who have been affected by protracted conflict. As well as providing complex trauma surgery, medical teams in Bunia treat patients with burns and provide post-trauma care, including physiotherapy and consultations. To strengthen local health care infrastructure and improve the quality of medical care, MSF teams are also training local medical staff, improving the quality of biomedical equipment, supporting the referral system, donating medical equipment, and constructing health infrastructure. MSF's support also extends to the general reference hospital. In addition to the project in Bunia, MSF supports two Ministry of Health hospitals, 12 health centers, three advanced health posts, and 20 community care sites in Drodro and Angumu, where our teams predominantly treat , , and common childhood diseases, and provide care for survivors of and psychological support. MSF has been working in DRC for more than 40 years and currently runs projects in 20 of the country's 26 provinces, providing medical care to victims of violence, displaced people, and those suffering from disease epidemics including , , , and . MSF also has emergency response teams on standby throughout the country to respond to epidemics, natural disasters, and conflicts.