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| Section The ICRC in the Democratic Republic of the Congo © ICRC/O. Miltcheva
Women await their turn as the ICRC and DRC Red Cross distribute food near Goma
In August 2008, hostilities resumed in North Kivu between the military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and fighters of the National Congress for the Defence of the People, worsening the humanitarian situation considerably. Weapon bearers were frequently reported to have killed civilians, destroyed property, committed widespread sexual violence, or otherwise breached humanitarian and human rights laws.
Renewed fighting displaced over 250,000 civilians, sometimes repeatedly. The ICRC and the Red Cross Society of the DRC adapted their operations in North Kivu to focus on the consequent emergency needs.  Key document18-3-2010 Democratic Republic of the Congo: water to wash away the trauma of the past The women of Kibirizi are used to fetching water in jerrycans. But a two-hour walk for dirty river water is extreme. Especially if you risk death or rape on the way. Having safe water nearby is a life-saver in more ways than one, which is why the ICRC has just rebuilt the Kibirizi water system, putting clean drinking water within easy walking distance of 30,000 people. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Feature Includes Photo 10-2-2010 Democratic Republic of the Congo: economic support for isolated residents of South Kivu People living on the remote and war-torn Hauts Plateaux and Moyens Plateaux in South Kivu depend on farming and stockbreeding for survival. Very few humanitarian organizations work there and access is particularly difficult. The ICRC helps by vaccinating cattle and supporting local farmers. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Feature Includes Photo 9-2-2010 ICRC survey on the impact of armed conflict on civilians: views from the Democratic Republic of the Congo To raise awareness of the impact of armed conflict or other situations of armed violence on civilians, in 2009 the ICRC conducted a vast research programme in eight of the most troubled countries in the world. This report presents the consolidated results of the survey in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Report Includes PDF 3-2-2010 Democratic Republic of the Congo: the lost children of Goma  In the chaos of conflict, adults and children often get separated and lost. In the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has been ravaged by decades of war, hundreds of children are missing or separated. 17-year-old Shukuru hasn’t seen his parents for 8 months, but with help from the ICRC tracing team, he's found at least part of his family, and he can't wait to see them. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Films\From the field) ICRC film Includes Video 22-1-2010 Democratic Republic of the Congo: children travel thousands of kilometres back to loved onesIn a country as large as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), locating and reuniting family members separated by the conflict can be a complicated matter, especially during the rainy season when some areas are inaccessible. Svetlana Yudina, who runs the ICRC's programme to restore family links in the DRC, reports on a special flight to the capital Kinshasa with 42 children on board. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Interview 25-11-2009 Democratic Republic of the Congo: improving access to health care in North KivuOn 20 November 2009, the ICRC handed over the newly rebuilt Vuhoyo health centre to the health authorities in Kayna. Health delegate Marcelle Baltzinger highlights the struggles and inadequacies of health-care facilities in North Kivu. She describes ICRC efforts to improve access to care in this part of the country scarred by devastating armed conflict and marked by persistently poor security conditions. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Interview Feature4-3-2010 Sexual violence in the DRC: recognising trauma to rebuild one's life All around the world, thousands of women suffer sexual violence every year. On the occasion of International Women's Day (8 March), two Congolese women talk about their suffering and about the hope and strength that enable them to move on.
(The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Feature Includes Photo 25-11-2009 Sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a story of resilience Marie, a 22-year-old Congolese woman, has suffered long-term sexual abuse. She is now trying to rebuild her life thanks to the ICRC programme of psychosocial and economic support in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Marie's story is told by Nadine Puechguirbal, ICRC adviser on women and war. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Feature 12-6-2009 Democratic Republic of the Congo: Rachel, or the weight of water The population of Goma, the capital of North Kivu, has nearly tripled since 1994 owing to the many waves of people driven from their homes in the countryside. The city's infrastructure was not prepared for such an increase, and over half of residents don't have regular access to drinking water. This has led to poor hygiene and a growing incidence of disease, particularly among the displaced people who have found refuge in the city. Here are portraits of three of them and their daily struggle to find clean water. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Feature Includes Photo 29-5-2009 Democratic Republic of the Congo: "Mama Africa", mother of 158  For 15 years, Mama Bona has taken care of children separated from their families as a result of conflicts the country has gone through. When she cannot find a family to host unaccompanied children and orphans, they are welcome to stay at her house. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Feature Includes Photo 22-5-2009 Democratic Republic of the Congo: taming one’s fear, by helping others Mama Louise* was raped, together with her elderly mother and her three daughters. Ever since, she has devoted her time and energy to helping some of the countless Congolese women who have gone through the same ordeal. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Feature Includes Photo 8-5-2009 Democratic Republic of the Congo: a lone doctor runs a hospital in the midst of conflict Tharcysse Synga is the only doctor in the Minova hospital in South Kivu. He remembers those days in late 2008 when the place was hosting scores of war wounded and displaced persons. He had to perform up to 16 surgical operations a day. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Feature Includes Photo 2-3-2009 Democratic Republic of the Congo: the promise of a new day in North Kivu Though the situation remains volatile, security is gradually improving in some parts of eastern Congo. Thousands of people are taking the decision to return to their homes. The ICRC is helping them to start their lives over. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Feature Includes Photo ICRC film7-12-2009 Our world at war: 10 multimedia clips from 8 conflict zones Five award-winning war photographers from the VII photo agency – James Nachtwey, Franco Pagetti, Antonin Kratchovil, Ron Haviv and Christopher Morris - and the ICRC united to bring individual stories of loss and suffering in war to the forefront of the world’s attention: women struggling to recover from sexual violence, families coping with displacement, and people victimized by gang warfare. The project also drew attention to the inspirational efforts, by ordinary men and women, to limit human suffering in some of the most violent corners of the world. This DVD features 10 multimedia clips from eight war-affected countries. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Films\RC Movement) ICRC film Includes Video 1-12-2006 Congo Kinshasa: the hidden battlefieldBrutal rape has become commonplace in some parts of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, an area plagued by warring groups who prey on local people with little fear of retaliation. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Films\From the field) ICRC film Includes Video Interview10-7-2009 Democratic Republic of the Congo: 'protection is what these people need'Increasing attacks on civilians by weapons bearers are forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes in North and South Kivu. Outgoing head of delegation Max Hadorn describes a 'chronically deteriorating humanitarian situation' and the ICRC's response to the crisis. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Interview 15-6-2009 Democratic Republic of the Congo: supplying Goma with water With ICRC support, the capital of North Kivu has, for the first time in its history, adopted a plan to develop a drinking-water network for all residents. If it is implemented, it will ensure over 740,000 people access to a sufficient supply of clean water. Marc Suchet, head of the ICRC's water and sanitation programme in North Kivu, explains why a comprehensive long-term plan is better than a series of emergency projects. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Interview Includes Photo 10-3-2009 Democratic Republic of the Congo: a photographer’s viewFor a month in 2008, Carl de Keyzer, a member of Magnum Photos, was embedded in the ICRC teams in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the east of the country, where tens of thousands of people have had to flee from the fighting, this famous photographer observed the daily life of displaced persons and local communities. Here he looks back on his experiences. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Interview Includes Photo 2-3-2009 Sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: prevention and victim assistance Armed violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, especially in the provinces of North and South Kivu, includes widespread rape and countless other forms of sexual violence. Mirella Papinutto, head of the ICRC's psycho-social programmes in the country, talks about the activities conducted by the ICRC to prevent such violence and assist the victims. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Interview Includes Photo 13-2-2009 Democratic Republic of the Congo: displacements and their many ramificationsThe vast majority of the 1,200,000 people displaced since last year have been given temporary shelter by host families. Manuel Duce Marques, an ICRC nutritionist, explains why this has resulted in a steady deterioration of the local economy. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Interview Includes Photo Operational update7-9-2009 Democratic Republic of the Congo: armed conflict puts enormous strain on civilians in North and South KivuThe Democratic Republic of the Congo celebrated 49 years of independence from Belgium on 30 June 2009. Conditions in North and South Kivu gave civilians no reason to celebrate. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Operational update 13-2-2009 Democratic Republic of the Congo: displacement, a refuge from violenceAfter intense fighting resumed at the end of October 2008, some 250,000 civilians from Rutshuru territory in North Kivu had to leave their native villages at the risk of their lives. Today, some are returning home. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Operational update 27-1-2009 Democratic Republic of the Congo: concern over humanitarian situation in the KivusTeams from the ICRC and the Red Cross Society of the Democratic Republic of the Congo continue to assist victims of the armed conflict in the Kivus. Despite a lull in the fighting since the end of 2008, the ICRC remains concerned about the welfare of people living in this volatile region. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Operational update Photo Collection18-6-2009 Democratic Republic of the Congo: families torn apart by the conflict never lose hope  As part of its mandate, the ICRC works to reunite family members separated by conflict. In North Kivu, as in most war-torn areas, this often involves registering unaccompanied children and advising distraught parents. (Info resources\Photos\Africa) Photo Collection Includes Photo 11-3-2009 Democratic Republic of the Congo: the ICRC is standing by the population of Kivu More than 1.2 million people have fled the fighting in North Kivu since the end of 2007. As security improves in a number of regions some of these displaced persons are starting to return home, but many of them are still staying with host families. Others survive in makeshift, overcrowded camps. Life is touch and go for the displaced, who are short of everything. The ICRC and the Red Cross Society of the DRC are providing them with food and drinking water. The two organizations are also supporting hospitals and health centres in the areas concerned and are trying to reunite families who have been wrenched apart by the conflict. (Info resources\Photos\Africa) Photo Collection Includes Photo Press article29-1-2010 Continent of small miracles – A Süddeutsche Zeitung report on the DR Congo Everywhere, family members are being thrust apart, never to see each other again. Yet there are still stories like that of Najibu. This article by Arne Perras appeared in the German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung on Saturday 2 January 2010. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa) Press article Includes Photo 7-5-2009 Flight and survival in North Kivu Last October, as fighting raged in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Red Cross volunteers and their ICRC colleagues strove to come to the aid of some 200,000 civilians forced to flee their homes. Three of them describe their experiences. Article published in the Red Cross Red Crescent Magazine, No 1, 2009. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Press article Video Collection18-11-2009 DR Congo: giving lost children the chance of a new life In August 2008, hostilities resumed between the military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and fighters of the National Congress for the Defence of the People. Over 250,000 civilians were forced to flee, sometimes repeatedly. In the chaos, families were separated, children were lost. The ICRC works with the Don Bosco centre, an orphanage in Goma, to reunite children with their families. (Info resources\Video) Video Collection Includes Video 18-8-2009 DR Congo: bringing families back together Shukuru is one of hundreds of children who lost touch with his family when fighting intensified in Eastern Congo last year. Like many others, he was feared to be dead. The joy of his relatives was endless when he finally returned home with the help of the ICRC. (Info resources\Video) Video Collection Includes Video 16-7-2009 The healing power of words: a listening house in DR Congo Every day women are raped in Eastern Congo. Consequently, they not only suffer physical pain, but also emotional trauma and the fear of being rejected by their communities. The ICRC supports over 30 counselling centres in North and South Kivu, where victims of rape meet compassionate listeners and find support as they talk about their suffering. (Info resources\Video) Video Collection Includes Video 15-7-2009 Access to the fields: a question of survival in DR Congo Fighting between the military and the armed opposition displaced hundreds of thousands of people in Eastern Congo last year. The outbreak of hostilities made it impossible for farmers to plant their seeds and left the displaced dependent on maize flour, palm oil and beans distributed by humanitarian organizations. (Info resources\Video) Video Collection Includes Video 27-2-2009 Counselling rape victimes in Democratic Republic of the Congo Charlotte Tabaro is a psycho-social worker for the Red Cross in DRC. By offering a listening ear to victims of sexual violence, she helps them to share their experiences and deal with the pain of the traumatic events they have gone through. (Info resources\Video) Video Collection Includes Video More in this section30-6-2001 Six ICRC staff killed in the Democratic Republic of the CongoInternational Review of the Red Cross No. 842 (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) 4-5-2001 Short biographies of the six ICRC staff killed in Democratic Republic of Congo(The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) 2-5-2001 Statement of M. Jakob Kellenberger, President of the ICRC,
at the memorial service for the six ICRC colleagues
who lost their lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) |
