Tearfund partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo are drawing up plans to help people caught in a new outbreak of violence in the volatile east of the country.
Clashes have intensified in recent days between rebel fighters and government forces in North Kivu province, an area where Tearfund work is concentrated.
The rebels, known as the National Congress for the Defence of the People, have taken control of several key towns and have been advancing on the city of Goma, resulting in many thousands of Congolese fleeing their homes.
The UN, which has a 17,000-strong peace-keeping force in the region, says the fighting is having a `catastrophic’ humanitarian toll on the civilian population.
Forgotten conflict
Around 250,000 people have been made homeless since the collapse of a peace deal in August, adding to the 850,000 that have been displaced over the last two years in one of the world’s forgotten conflicts.
Although the rebels have now stopped their advance on Goma and have declared a unilateral ceasefire, Tearfund’s Sadiki Byombuka, who is based in nearby Bukavu, says businesses in Goma have closed and people are staying at home as the security situation remains tense.
Tearfund works with two main Christian partners in the region – HEAL Africa and PPSSP, both of which have staff in Goma.
PPSSP promotes public health by running health education schemes, trauma counselling and providing practical items, such as mosquito nets and water containers.
Looting
HEAL Africa runs health, social and economic programmes with a mission to improve people’s lives physically and spiritually.
So far staff from both partners are safe but a HEAL Africa spokesman said control of Goma was in limbo with retreating government forces worsening the security situation by going on looting sprees.
However partner projects elsewhere in North Kivu, such as Beni, remain unaffected, as do the activities of Tearfund’s Disaster Management Team working in South Kivu and Maniema Provinces, who are involved in food security, schools reconstruction, water and sanitation provision and public health promotion.
Tearfund has initially earmarked £35,000 so its Christian partners can implement plans to provide the civilian population with humanitarian aid and medical supplies - once the security situation eases.
Misery
David Bainbridge, Tearfund’s Disaster Management Director, said, `The number of people affected by the misery of this conflict is enormous and will grow even larger unless there is a cessation of hostilities.
`We’re working with our partners to help civilians caught up in this but we need the fighting to stop as soon as possible.’
The east of the Democratic Republic of Congo has been a trouble hotspot since the end of a five year conflict in 2003 which saw the heaviest loss of life since the end of the Second World War.
Rwanda
The rebels’ leader, Laurent Nkunda, claims to be protecting the minority Tutsi population in the east from militias linked to the genocide in neighbouring Rwanda in the early 1990s.
However some see the control of natural resources in the area, such as gold and coltan - which is used in the making of mobile phones - as the root of the conflict.
The Democratic Republic of Congo government accuses neighbouring Rwanda of supporting rebels with weapons and troops, as fighting is concentrated alongside the border between the two countries. Rwanda's government denies any involvement in the fighting.
The peace deal signed in January collapsed amid mutual accusations of breaking the ceasefire from both the rebels and the government.
Date: 02-11-2008
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