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| Section The ICRC in the Democratic Republic of the Congo © ICRC / O. Miltcheva
In North and South Kivu, the humanitarian and security situation has progressively deteriorated, in part as a result of a substantial shift in the balance of political power in the two provinces following the 2006 elections. Both the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the opposition forces of Laurent Nkunda have strengthened their positions, and in 2007, clashes between them increased in frequency.
Extensive population displacement has resulted, leaving many people dependent on aid. Others are in areas too insecure for humanitarian agencies to reach.  Key document21-11-2008 Democratic Republic of the Congo: civilians continue to sufferThe fierce fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has forced thousands more to flee. Arms bearers are murdering, raping and looting the civilian population. Working with the Red Cross Society of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Croix-Rouge de la RDC, CRRDC), the ICRC is continuing to assist the suffering population. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Operational update Includes Photo 18-11-2008 Democratic Republic of the Congo: renewed mass displacementsThousands of people continue to flee fighting in North Kivu. These newly-displaced people and the tens of thousands already displaced have absolutely nothing and are in a desperate situation. Working with the Red Cross Society of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the ICRC is continuing to bring these people the aid they urgently need. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Operational update Includes Photo 7-11-2008 Democratic Republic of the Congo: displaced short of food and waterIntense fighting in North Kivu has triggered a new wave of displacement of the population. The infrastructure of the camps hosting the displaced is inadequate. Food and drinking water are lacking and hygiene conditions are terrible. The ICRC and the Red Cross Society of DRC are responding to the most urgent needs. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Operational update Includes Photo 4-11-2008 Democratic Republic of the Congo: rushing priority aid to those who need it mostThe fighting that raged in the province of North Kivu during the last week of October has stopped for now, but tens of thousands are still on the move. The situation is catastrophic, for everyone in the region. Those who have fled have had to abandon everything. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Operational update Includes Photo 1-10-2008 Democratic Republic of the Congo: renewed fighting hits civiliansOn 28 August 2008, fighting resumed between the armed forces of the DRC, the armed opposition movement of the Congrès National pour la Défense du Peuple and other armed groups. The situation in North and South Kivu worsened drastically, forcing around 100,000 people to flee their homes and exacerbating the plight of the civilian population. Max Hadorn, the ICRC’s head of delegation in the DRC, describes the seriousness of the humanitarian situation and talks about what the ICRC is doing to help. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Interview Includes Photo Feature8-12-2008 Democratic Republic of the Congo: Charlotte’s smileCharlotte Tabaro is a psycho-social worker in one of the two centres that the Red Cross Society of the DRC has set up in the displaced persons’ camps at Kibati, near Goma. Charlotte has been trained by the ICRC to care for victims of the conflict, to listen as they tell of their suffering and to provide counselling. The counselling centres are known in French as “maisons d’écoute” – literally, “listening houses”. Here, suffering meets compassion and hope. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Feature Includes Photo 28-11-2008 Democratic Republic of the Congo: the fates of separated families intertwineFamilies are big in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; some comprise as many as 10 children. Children often become separated from their families as terrified crowds flee the fighting. Dozens of families have become split up since fighting resumed. Two stories show how friendship and solidarity are helping people cope. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Feature Includes Photo 27-11-2008 Democratic Republic of the Congo: a new role for Mboka school Since the end of August, tens of thousands of people have fled their homes to escape the violence which is devastating the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Several hundred of them ended up in Mboka, near Goma, after an exhausting journey on foot. The headteacher and staff of a local school came to their rescue. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Feature Includes Photo 14-11-2008 My baby’s name means “suffering”Thousands of people have fled the violence which has ravaged North Kivu since September. Here, some of the displaced currently staying in Kibati 2 camp, near Goma, describe their tragic experiences, how they have fled from one camp to another, and the desperate poverty in all the camps. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Feature Includes Photo 9-6-2008 Zimbabwe: a long journey of hope to reunionWhen the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo spread to the village of Uvira in South Kivu Province, people fled in fear for their lives. Many were separated from their families. Some, like Domina, undertook arduous journeys to ICRC-supported refugee camps such as Tongogara in neighbouring Zimbabwe. The ICRC's Mabel Sithole reports. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Zimbabwe) Feature Includes Photo 8-6-2008 An unexpected twist: Mulumderwa's storyYears of civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have torn families apart, forcing people to seek refuge in neighbouring countries. The ICRC works closely with National Red Cross Societies, supporting refugee camps and tracing services to bring people together again. For some, years of despair can turn to happiness in an instant. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Zimbabwe) Feature Includes Photo 13-2-2008 DRC: boosting production for farmers recovering from displacementDisplaced families who return to their fields often find their harvests deliberately destroyed, or the fields abandoned and overgrown with weeds. The ICRC is helping returning farmers to recover their fields and increase production with a new variety of cassava plant, as well as providing them with training in planting and maintenance. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Feature 31-1-2008 DRC: helping child soldiers find the road home In eastern DRC there is a centre that has helped over 1,500 former child soldiers reintegrate with their communities. The ICRC provides material support and plays the crucial role of reconnecting the children with their families. Bernard Barrett reports from Bukavu. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Feature Includes Photo 20-12-2007 Eastern DRC: widespread sexual violence against women threatens familiesCountless women in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have fallen prey to sexual violence carried out by armed bands. The ICRC provides support to local groups which help traumatized women recover. Bernard Barrett reports on the scourge of Kivu and meets two of the victims. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Feature Includes Photo 17-12-2007 DRC: young mine victim dreams of playing football againFollowing years of fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) the ICRC maintains its help for vulnerable civilian groups. A young boy who lost his leg in a mine accident tells his story to the ICRC’s Bernard Barrett. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Feature Includes Photo 24-9-2007 Congo-Kinshasa: former child soldiers return to their familiesThe ongoing peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is allowing some fighters to lay down their weapons and begin a peaceful life. The ICRC is helping to demobilize child soldiers so that they can return to their families. Journalist Isabel Coello reports. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Feature Includes Photo ICRC film1-12-2006 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 Interview31-10-2008 Democratic Republic of the Congo: Emergency humanitarian action for a population in dangerThe fighting that has racked the Congolese province of North Kivu in recent days has forced tens of thousands of people to flee and left large numbers wounded. Olivier Martin, the ICRC’s deputy head of delegation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), talks about the drastic consequences and how the ICRC is responding. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Interview Includes Photo 13-8-2008 Economic support for thousands of families in Congo-Kinshasa - A major challenge at a time of global food crisisTo cope with the tragic situation in North and South Kivu, the ICRC has nearly doubled its assistance to people affected by the internal armed conflict. Ian Byram, who heads the ICRC’s economic security unit in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, explains the action being taken by the ICRC to meet people’s needs. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Interview Includes Photo 26-6-2008 Confronting sexual violence as a method of warfareThe UN Security Council adopted a new resolution in June demanding that those engaged in conflict take action to halt rape and other forms of sexual violence against civilians. The ICRC's legal adviser on women and war, Jean-Marie Henckaerts, talks about the importance of this step and its likely impact. (Humanitarian law\Women and war) Interview Includes Photo 20-12-2007 Sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: victims on trial Over the past 10 years, rape and sexual assault have been perpetrated on a regular basis by armed groups operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In recent years, sexual violence has also been committed by civilians and former fighters. Most of these crimes go unpunished. Nancy Baudoin, who recently completed an assignment in the country as a psychosocial delegate, talks about how the ICRC assists the victims. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Interview Includes PDF, Photo 2-11-2007 Congo-Kinshasa: dramatic humanitarian impact of ongoing fighting Yann Bonzon is in charge of ICRC operations in Goma. He explains what the ICRC is doing for the victims of the fighting and denounces the numerous incidents of abuse of the civilian population, in particular the many cases of sexual violence. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Interview Includes Photo Operational update30-9-2008 Democratic Republic of the Congo: emergency humanitarian action after resumption of fightingA resumption of violent clashes in North and South Kivu has resulted in a major deterioration in the humanitarian situation and a number of casualties. In response to the emergency, the ICRC has issued an appeal for civilians to be spared and has concentrated its efforts, including medical assistance, in areas near the fighting and in areas to which displaced people have fled. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Operational update Includes Photo 4-9-2008 Democratic Republic of the Congo: ICRC activities in the Kivus from April to August 2008Despite the peace process launched in February 2008, sporadic fighting has continued in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), forcing more people to leave their homes and perpetuating a difficult humanitarian situation. (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Operational update 6-3-2008 Democratic Republic of the Congo: Update on ICRC activities in the Kivus – January and February 2008(The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Operational update 31-1-2008 Congo-Kinshasa: ICRC activities from January to December 2007An overview of the ICRC’s work throughout the DRC in the fields of assistance, protection, promotion of international humanitarian law and support for the National Society (The ICRC worldwide\Africa\Congo-Kinshasa) Operational update Photo Collection3-11-2006 Democratic Republic of the Congo: saving lives, rebuilding livelihoods This gallery contains images and excerpts from a new ICRC photo exhibition that provides a fresh look at the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It depicts the central human concerns arising out of years of violence in which hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives, focusing on key issues such as child soldiers, sexual violence, health, water, economic security, helping abandoned communities, reuniting families and 'fighting right', and provides an overview of what the ICRC is doing to tackle these challenges. (Info resources\Photos\Africa) Photo Collection Includes Photo Video Collection8-6-2006 DRC: ICRC distributes essential aid to villagersA gradual improvement in the security situation has recently allowed some 45,000 people to return to their homes in the Kibirizi area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The ICRC is providing the necessary materials that will help people resume the lives they had before they were forced to flee their villages at the beginning of the year. (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) |
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