2013-11-05 14:14:44

Relief in eastern DRC, but situation still grave


(Vatican Radio) The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed victory over M23 rebels in the eastern region of the country. And M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa followed up with a statement on Tuesday, saying his group is ending its rebellion after nearly two years. The group will seek to resolve its grievances through “political means only,” Bisimwa said.

Annick Bouvier, a spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Kinshasa, says there is relief in the local population of the area of recent fighting between government forces and M23 rebels.

“There is a sense of relief in the population that our team there could notice,” she said. “On the roads, there is more traffic; the shops are opening again. But there are humanitarian consequences, not only in the region but outside in neighbouring Uganda and Rwanda.”

While M23 rebels may be suppressed, the DRC remains a country wrought by conflict. Bouvier said media attention is currently focusing on the area north of Goma.

“But, unfortunately, other territories are still affected by conflict, where there are a multitude of other groups still active,” she said, and the Red Cross is sparing no resource to reach distressed populations in remote areas.

The humanitarian focus of the Red Cross in DRC has been to meet the needs of those displaced by conflict, to visit people who have been captured or released, to provide regular support to health centres, and to reunite families separated by the conflict.

“This week, 18 children will be reunited with their families in eastern Kivu,” Bouvier said. Local Red Cross volunteers are also doing the difficult and dangerous work of burying mortal remains.

Some political initiatives are underway, though the situation remains uncertain, she said.

“For the ICRC, the priority remains to be very close to the communities most affected by the consequences,” she said, referring to the victims of direct attacks, sexual violence and looting.

“We continue to assess the situation,” she said. “One of our priorities is also to continue the bilateral dialogue with armed forces and groups to try to convince them to respect international conventions and law. We also network with a number of people who could have an influence on these forces and groups to try to alleviate the suffering of the population in eastern DRC.”

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Report by Laura Ieraci








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