The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is launching new projects in DR Congo. The DRC operations will be focussing on two of DR Congo's northeastern districts, Haut Uele and Ituri, where the number of internally displaced people have now reached 500.000.
DRC will perform various forms of assistance, as needs are not the same in all regions. DRC will be working towards securing various forms of emergency relief - food, clean water, blankets, clothes, hygiene products and other basics. DRC will also engage in long-term solutions ensuring the safety of the IDPs and the reconstruction of the many abandoned homes and farming areas.
Emergency relief to the Haut Uele district
The future projects will target security and stability needs in DR Congo. In the Haut-Uele district conflicts are still raging and the coming operations consist of basic emergency assistance to vulnerable groups - women and children.
The many internally displaced people are in desperate need of food, clean water, blankets, clothes, hygiene products and other basic relief items. This is what the Danish Refugee Council will see to provide in the Haut Uele district.
The situation in Haut Uele is critical and the level of security is very low. LRA is still in the area and their brutal attacks on civilians leave people frightened and traumatized.
Reconstruction of destroyed villages in the district of Ituri
In the Ituri district IDPs – who have been displaced for years - are returning to their homes as LRA has currently left the area. There is some stability in the district, but there is nothing for the IDPs to return to. Their homes and farming areas are ruined.
The work of The Danish Refugee Council in this region will therefore focus on agricultural projects to ensure stability and development. Rebuilding villages and farming areas is a special priority as it will help to secure the survival of the local civilians.
Locals will be able to participate in agricultural projects, learn more about cultivating their land and be given seeds and new agricultural tools.
A population forced to flee
LRA is responsible for many years of civil war and brutal and meaningless killing in neighboring Uganda. In 2006 LRA changed settings and moved its forces to DR Congo where security has since been weakened.
Their brutal attacks on civilians create fear and force thousands of civilians to flee. They kidnap children and rape women - they terrorize and traumatize. Entire villages and homes are destroyed.
So far 5.4 million civilians have lost their lives as a result of the violent conflicts.
