Working with Partners:
- Together with the DRC Government, and in particular the National Commission for Refugees (CNR), UNHCR manages and implements delivery of humanitarian assistance and protection for refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Through a collaborative approach, support is delivered jointly with FAO, IOM, MONUSCO, OCHA, UNDP, UNFPA, UN-HABITAT, UNICEF, UNWOMEN, WFP and WHO among other agencies and NGOs. UNHCR leads the Protection Cluster, which coordinates the protection actors in their support to IDPs and other civilians. It also supports the coordination and management of IDP camps. Furthermore, UNHCR coleads the Protection and Prevention component of the National Strategy on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in DRC.
Throughout the operational area, assistance is delivered together with 12 partners: ADES, ADSSE, AIDES, AIRD, CNR, COOPI, INTERSOS, MIDEFEHOPF, SAVE CONGO, SAVE THE CHILDREN, SFCG and TSF.
Main Activities
Refugees from South Sudan
- During the month of August, more South Sudanese refugees were registered (2,030) than during the months of July (1,547) and June (1,280).
- 420 of the most vulnerable refugees in Meri were served with hot meals. In Biringi, 120 refugees received hot meals. UNHCR in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) distributed flour, beans, vegetable oil and salt to 1,740 refugees in Bitima and Mogoroko (Dungu territory), while 1,700 refugees in Dungu and Duru had previously received their monthly food supply.
- Two agronomists and four instructors assisted the refugees in Biringi and Meri with the preparation and maintenance of their fields and advice for harvest, storage of produce and seeds. With the support of UNHCR and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 470 refugee families harvested 15,200 kg beans and 130 local families harvested 4,800 kg beans in Meri.
- WFP in collaboration with UNHCR distributed the monthly cash allowance of 16 USD per person to 7,840 families in Meri and 1,290 families in Biringi.
Refugees from Burundi - In the new site of Mulongwe (near Baraka), works have slowed down due to the worsening security situation in Fizi territory (South Kivu), caused by activities of armed groups.
- On 24 August, the Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, on mission in DRC, visited Lusenda camp and observed the difficult situation of overcrowding and the persistent gaps namely in the education sector.
- On 14 August, 70 Burundian refugees (24 households) from Lusenda camp were assisted by UNHCR to return to Burundi through Kavimvira border point. This was the first convoy of this type and there are no other convoys scheduled. UNHCR is not promoting voluntary return at this stage, but helped both DRC and Burundi governments in the delivery of necessary documentation and provided material assistance to returnees. Return intentions’ survey indicated that the majority of refugees do not wish to return and still fear for their lives in Burundi.