Refugees International: Reports: Visual Mission: Faces of displacement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Home About Us Donate Where We Work Issues Blog

Visual Mission: Faces of displacement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a country the size of Western Europe, has struggled with civil war and conflict, including occupation by foreign troops, for the past seven years. Throughout this period the violence has displaced civilians. The government of the DRC is primarily responsible for providing assistance to displaced people and it is assisted considerably by the humanitarian community. Responding simultaneously to all of the groups displaced in different geographical areas and at different times requires resources and creativity. However, the DRC is the largest overlooked disaster in the world. With the United Nations Consolidated Appeal funded at only 30% of the requested amount, there are hardly enough funds to meet the myriad needs of the displaced population. The humanitarian community is often forced to make hard choices and tries to assist the most vulnerable of all the IDPS, leaving many behind. The following are the stories of a few of the displaced people that Refugees International encountered on its recent mission to the DRC.

DRC 2005: Recently displaced people in the Ituri Region

04/26/2005
These people fled their villages in the Ituri Region of Orientale Province when hardliners in the militias clashed with UN peacekeeping troops. 20,000 fled to Kafé camp, a small village sandwiched between the mountains and Lake Albert, which separates the DRC from Uganda. After MONUC forces withdrew from the camp, the Ituri Integrated Brigade, a special internationally-trained unit of the DRC army, was stationed in this camp. Due to initial misgivings as to whether the Congolese army would be able to protect them, the displaced people threatened to leave the camp and follow MONUC. However, the Ituri Brigade was able to win the confidence of the people by effective and robust action against the militia threatening the camp. They were even able to expand the boundaries around the camp beyond what had been initially secured by MONUC. Because of the increased security that the Ituri Brigade brought to the area, thousands of IDPs felt safe to return home quickly to their villages.