03/23/2005

This woman is part of a large group of internally displaced people who have been living for years in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and in camps on the outskirts, who are finally beginning to return home. Assisted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Ministry of Social Affairs expanded their pilot return project to include internally displaced in and around Kinshasa after learning about the group of displaced people from Refugees International.

Despite some problems with the implementation, this return has been a success. However, several hundred people who would like to return are still unable to do so, mainly due to protracted insecurity in their areas of origin. Refugees International is concerned that in its zeal to implement the program, the Government of the DRC will close the camps and the remaining displaced people will be left without assistance or viable options for resettlement.