DR CONGO / HUMANITARIAN RELIEF

A UN delegation headed by the Humanitarian Coordinator in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Moustapha Soumaré visited North Kivu this weekend and delivered humanitarian assistance to the Mugunga 3 camp for displaced people. MONUSCO

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:00:44
• Production Date: 10 December 2012
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION STABILIZATION MISSION IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO - MONUSCO
• Subject Topical: PEACE AND SECURITY; HUMANITARIAN RELIEF; REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS
• Geographic Subject: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
• MAMS Id: U121210d

Description

STORY: DR CONGO / HUMANITARIAN RELIEF
TRT: 0.44
SOURCE: MONUSCO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 8 DECEMBER 2012, MUGUNGA 3 CAMP, NORTH KIVU, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, supplies
2. Med shot, displaced people people filing past
3. Wide shot, Humanitarian Coordinator Moustapha Soumaré walking in camp
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Moustapha Soumaré, Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) and UN Humanitarian Coordinator:
"So my visit here today is really not just a moral support, as I say, it's really to come and see and have a discussion with our humanitarian colleagues so that we can improve on the delivery, so that we can improve on the protection of the civilians, so that we can improve in terms of the health of the internally displaced people."
5. Various shots, distribution of humanitarian assistance

Storyline

While relief workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have scaled up assistance to those affected by the recent violence in Goma, the protection of civilians remains a major concern, said a senior United Nations official who toured the area.

The clashes displaced more than 130,000 people in and around Goma, and sent another 47,000 fleeing to neighbouring South Kivu province. Many of those uprooted from their homes are currently living either with host families, or in camps and spontaneous sites, or in public buildings.

The Humanitarian Coordinator in DRC, Moustapha Soumaré on Saturday (8 December) toured North Kivu's provincial capital to gain first-hand information on the humanitarian situation and the protection of civilians following the recent fighting between the Congolese national army (FARDC) and the M23 armed group.

While in Goma, Soumaré visited the Mugunga III camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) which was attacked by armed men on 2 December. During the attack, the perpetrators robbed and looted newly distributed food, essential household items, and medicine from several families. Several women suffered sexual violence.

SOUNDBITE (English) Moustapha Soumaré, Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) and UN Humanitarian Coordinator:
"So my visit here today is really not just a moral support, as I say, it's really to come and see and have a discussion with our humanitarian colleagues so that we can improve on the delivery, so that we can improve on the protection of the civilians, so that we can improve in terms of the health of the internally displaced people."

Soumaré noted that, since the lull in fighting in North Kivu, humanitarian workers have scaled up their interventions to respond to the urgent needs of thousands of people by providing food, potable water, health and other essential services and commodities.

The IDPs he spoke with stressed the urgent need to re-establish security in their home areas to facilitate their return. While acknowledging the life-saving assistance that they have received so far, they pled for additional aid.

Meanwhile, daily life is slowly resuming in Goma in a “highly unpredictable climate,” according to a news release Soumaré issued over the weekend. The airport, which was closed for two weeks, has re-opened – a significant development for the humanitarian response, notably in terms of shipping aid and transporting personnel.

Soumaré used the trip to Goma to airlift several tons of medicine and therapeutic milk that will be used to treat some 30,000 people during one month and malnourished children. Numerous schools remain closed as they have been looted or are occupied by displaced families.

The M23 occupied Goma for 11 days last month and then withdrew in accordance with requirements laid out in a communiqué issued by the regional intergovernmental group known as the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).