DR CONGO / DONGO

MONUC's military commanders arrive in the Democratic Republic of Congo's northwest region to support the country's armed forces to take control of Dongo, where recent tribal clashes have forced thousands to flee. MONUC

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:45
• Production Date: 22 December 2009
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS OBSERVER MISSSION IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO - MONUC
• Subject Topical: PEACE AND SECURITY
• Geographic Subject: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
• MAMS Id: U091222a

Description

STORY: DR CONGO / DONGO
TRT: 1:45
SOURCE: MONUC
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: NATS

DATELINE: 19 DECEMBER 2009, GEMENA, EQUATEUR PROVINCE, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

Shotlist

1. Med shot, MONUC Military and FARDC on airplane to Gemena Airport
2. Med shot, Congolese Military and Police awaiting arrival of MONUC and FARDC officers
3. Med shot, FARDC Officer being greeted at Gemena Airport
4. Pan left, FARDC Honor Guard marching
5. Pan right; FARDC General inspecting Honor Guard
6. Med shot, exterior of UN/MONUC compound in Gemena
7. Med shot, UN military officers attending briefing
8. Med shot, UN military officers listening to briefing
9. Med shot, briefing
10. Wide shot, UN military official briefing UN military and civilian personnel on situation
11. Med shot, British and Indian UN officers listening to briefing
12. Med shot, British, Indian and other UN officers leaving the briefing
13. Med shot, convoy leaving UN Compound back to airport

Storyline

Military commanders from the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) arrived in the northwest of the country to support the Congolese military (FARDC) take control of Dongo where recent tribal clashes have forced thousands to flee.

Dongo, which is situated in the northwestern Equateur Province, has been plagued by fighting between region’s Lobala and Bomboma tribes since this October. The UN reported that the conflict has so far claimed about 100 lives.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported that at least 115,000 people have fled the violence, out of which 77,000 have crossed the Oubangui River into the Republic of Congo.

Many have also taken refuge in and around neighbouring Gemena where MONUC has a compound. The military commanders visited the compound to attend a briefing on the security and humanitarian situation in the area.

According to the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), humanitarian agencies are on standby to access the changing humanitarian situation in the ground.

MONUC is currently deploying 500 peacekeepers from Ghana, Tunisia, Egyptian and Guatemalan into the region to support FARDC. It is also providing transportation, fuel, food and medical evacuation.

The mission, however, expressed that it will not support FARDC’s operation if there are any violations of human rights, international humanitarian law and the rights of refugees.