United Nations

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Nations Unies

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Visit of ASG Catherine Bragg to DRCongo, 31 May - 04 June 2011

Statement for press conference

04 June 2011, Kinshasa

Good afternoon everyone,

I have just spent the last three days visiting areas of this vast country, meeting Congolese people whose lives have been torn apart by violence, families who are living in deep poverty,and communities who live in daily fear of attack. I’ve also met some of the aid workers, peacekeepers and Government officials who are trying to prevent and respond to violence, and who provide the basic humanitarian assistance that is all that some communities have to live on.

As you all know, there are multiple humanitarian crises affecting people in theDemocratic Republic of the Congo. Each crisis has unique causes and dynamics, related to various local and regional armed conflicts, as well as endemic disease, high malnutrition rates and lack of economic development. They all share a common background of widespread poverty, chronic instability, and serious abuses against civilians by warring parties.

I am particularly concerned by the fact that an estimated 1.7 million people are displaced in the east and north-east. Millions of people are living in fear of daily attack by armed groups, who kill maim, rape, kidnap, loot and burn down houses. What I found during my mission is that the situation is changing with some people returning home while others are still being displaced. Of greater relevance is that those who are being displaced are in the most remote areas, often living in isolated communities where there is little government presence. Access to this population is difficult because of physical obstacles, including lack of roads, as wellas insecurity.

In Dungu, I met displaced families who are staying at Linakofo camp, with no prospect of going home soon.These families and thousands others are victims of the senseless violence of armed groups, notably the Lord’s Resistance Army.I acknowledged the great work that is being done by the humanitarian organizations and the collaboration with the peacekeepers that facilitate the delivery of aid. The isolation of many of the affected villages is a major challenge. We need to do more but also need to transform their daily reality. This requires the continuation of the provision of humanitarian aid, a level of protection afforded by the presence of humanitarian organizations, the work done by the peacekeepers, and the Congolese army.

In Bukavu I met aid organizations, peacekeepers and the Government to discuss the humanitarian situation. By all accounts, the situation in the South Kivu is gradually evolving with some 600,000 people having returned home in the last year. But another 600,000 have been forced to leave their homes due to attacks and insecurity. These displacements are occurring in the more remote areas where access is difficult because of insecurity but also because there are no roads.

I also visited a project run by Women for Women, an international organization that specializes in providing training and skills to socially-excluded women, notably rape survivors, poor, illiterate and displaced women. I also met with a number of NGOs active in the fight against in sexual violence, a phenomenon that is still widespread in the province. Many have said - but let me say it again - the use of sexual violence by armed groups to terrorize civilians is unacceptable, and those who commit such crimes, as well as other gross human right violations, must know that sooner or later they will be brought to justice.

In Bunia, I heard from aid workers and peacekeepers about the challenges they face in trying to provide aid and protection as insecurity prevents them from reaching around 30% of the people who need help.

In all my meetings, I heard that the response to this humanitarian crisis is providing life-saving assistance but that this needs to be complemented with development, stabilization and security.

The Government of DRC is ultimately responsible for the protection of its people. The

Government must act to prevent abuses by the military and security forces, as well as prioritizing reforms of the security and strengthening of the justice systems. I encourage the Government to resolutely embark on these reforms and extend state administration to the most remote areas.

The humanitarian community also wants to see stronger efforts by the United Nations Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO) to implement its protection mandate to the fullest. Throughout my meetings with aid workers, they stressed the need for Member States to empower MONUSCO to be present in far more locations throughout the areas where armed groups operate.

I also met representatives of donor countries here in Kinshasa, many of whom are generously supporting the plan developed by the United Nations and partners to address humanitarian needs in DRC. It is clear that we need to improve our delivery of humanitarian assistance to people interrible circumstances, and make real change happen. We need better coordination among humanitarian, stabilization and development actors. But with the Plan only 41% funded, the international community must engage more decisively. The survival of almost two million IDPs, many more recent returnees and others largely depends on international assistance.

More must be done now- first and foremost by the Congolese Government- to re-establish its effectiveness throughout the provinces so that it can guarantee the security of its people and that of aid workers. The humanitarian community also wants to see a more robust MONUSCO, capable of implementing to the fullest its protection mandate and to provide better support so that humanitarians can access everyone in need.

I call on donors and other members of the international community to continue supporting our work to alleviate suffering, while also complementing Government efforts to reduce poverty, reform the justice system, generate economic opportunities, and provide basic and social services.

In meeting with senior officials of UN agencies, MONUSCO and humanitarian organisations,I stressed the need to scale up aid, especially to the more remote areas, and called for closer collaboration as humanitarian aid, development assistance and stabilization are needed to form a comprehensive approach to peace and security. At this critical juncture, where humanitarian and development efforts co-exist, we need to adopt a holistic approach to the country’s challenges and build bridges between all stakeholders.

Ending the conflicts and achieving greater stability will help bring an end to human rights abuses and reduce humanitarian needs. That isthe ultimate aim of all parties committed to peace, stability and dignity for all the people in DRCongo. A collective action, led by the Government but involving the donor community, humanitarian organizations, and the peacekeeping mission, is needed if we want to provide a life of dignity, which is free from violence and fear.”

I'm happy to take your questions now.

[Ends]

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