Promise of a stable future for eastern DRC

UNHCR/Marie Frechon

The return of relative stability to eastern areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the past 15 months will enable more displaced people to return, UNHCR hopes. Forced from their homes by years of conflict, returning Congolese communities can now begin to farm their land again and rebuild their livelihoods.

UN High Commissoner for Refugees António Guterres and Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) Josette Sheeran recently visited IDP camps near Nyanzale and expressed optimism about the prospect of growing peace in the eastern region.

“ I have no doubt that given the support they need, and the stability that they crave, the people of this region can take advantage of the fertile land they live on to build a better future. Where relative peace prevails, WFP is planning to help Congolese communities return to productive lives through innovative programmes that use cash, vouchers and local purchase to support the growing agricultural economy,” Sheeran said.

“Worldwide we see that wherever security allows, people return to their homes and resume their lives. We want to see more of this happening in eastern Congo. But it’s a goal that can only be achieved if protection of civilians in DRC is both a national and international priority”, Guterres said.

However, whilst improvements in the east have allowed more than a million people to return home in the last year, elsewhere there has been significant new displacement. Sheeran and Guterres warned that decisions relating to the future of UN peacekeepers must take into account the vital support they provide to humanitarian agencies in reaching the displaced in remote and insecure areas.

The IDP camps in Nyanzale reflect some of the most critical work being done by UNHCR and WFP in eastern Congo. Both agencies are supporting populations that have been forced from their land and villages by fighting, as well as preparing them for a better future if peace and stability endures. 

UNHCR is acting as the coordinator of the humanitarian assistance delivered to the 84,000 internally displaced people in the 42 camps of the North Kivu Region. The agency provides essential support to the camps' predominantly female population, working to prevent and respond to sexual violence. Most of the women have lost their husbands and many have been raped during years of violence in eastern Congo.

UNHCR has assisted 106,000 IDPs in returning to their villages and re-building their lives since 2007.