LWF/DWS in DRC

• 2345610 Km2• 66,000 people• 40 years -life expectancy• Fertility: 6.5 child per

woman• Mortality rate: (128/10000

(eastern DRC)• Education level: 65.5% (-

20% women, especially in rural areas)

• HIV/AIDS prevalence:

DRC in FiguresDRC in Figures

Natural vegetation in Lubero

Typical farm in Lubero

Typical village in Lubero

• During the last period of Mobutu’s power, the country was almost left alone === presence of Rwandan refugees + FDLR in DRC

• 2006 (uprise of rebel movement against Mobutu) === hundreds of thousands of IDPs + refugees

• Neighboring countries enter DRC (support to government/rebel movement) === Mai-mai groups become active against invaders

• 1999 RW + Ug fight in DRC

• During the last period of Mobutu’s power, the country was almost left alone === presence of Rwandan refugees + FDLR in DRC

• 2006 (uprise of rebel movement against Mobutu) === hundreds of thousands of IDPs + refugees

• Neighboring countries enter DRC (support to government/rebel movement) === Mai-mai groups become active against invaders

• 1999 RW + Ug fight in DRC

Recurrent EmergenciesRecurrent Emergencies

• January 2002: lava flow from volcanic eruption devastates Goma

• November 2002: interethnic fighting in Ituri (extreme violence – EU intervention)

• Multiplication of Mai-mai and militia groups === control of vast areas for exploitation of natural resources…

• Government reinforces positions === clashes + fighting === more displacement

absence of legal authority===vacuum for crimes, rapes, insecurity of all kinds

• January 2002: lava flow from volcanic eruption devastates Goma

• November 2002: interethnic fighting in Ituri (extreme violence – EU intervention)

• Multiplication of Mai-mai and militia groups === control of vast areas for exploitation of natural resources…

• Government reinforces positions === clashes + fighting === more displacement

absence of legal authority===vacuum for crimes, rapes, insecurity of all kinds

Emergencies…Emergencies…

Emergencies …Emergencies …

• End October 2008: FDLR attacks Goma after Rutshuru === big influx of IDPs toward Goma town (+200,000 people)

• January 2009: joint military operation DRC-Rwanda against FDLR === FDLR revenge on civil population (terrorize by burning houses…)

• End October 2008: FDLR attacks Goma after Rutshuru === big influx of IDPs toward Goma town (+200,000 people)

• January 2009: joint military operation DRC-Rwanda against FDLR === FDLR revenge on civil population (terrorize by burning houses…)

Consequences

• Millions of people displaced• Thousands of broken homes • Rampant malnutrition in children• Normal life disrupted• Dependency on humanitarian aid• Loss of dignity• Exploitation of human beings• Insecurity, rape …

LWF’s presence in DRC

- 1994: support to Rwandan refugees in DRC- 1999: support to refugees in Kisangani region- 2001: war victims in Kisangani- 2002: volcanic eruption in Goma- 2003: Ituri IDPs in Beni- 2006: IDPs in Lubero and Masisi- (Field offices in Beni, Bunia, Kisangani + 1

Coord office in Goma)

LWF’s offices in DRC

• 1National Coordination office in Goma

• 1 Field office in Beni– 1 Sub field office in Lubero

• 1 Flield Office in Bunia• 1 Field Office in Kisangani

Main challenges

• Travel between field offices is done by air (due to insecurity ad bad road conditions)

• Most flying companies have been blacklisted

• Fierce competition between NGOs to assess funds locally

Opportunities• LWF’s is active member of the cluster

(food security, nutrition, logistics, educations)

• LWF is well accepted in the areas where we work and built up confidence with the communities

• LWF’s has competent staff and proven experience

• LWF is respected among the humanitarian actors (there are over 60 NGOs in Goma)

• Priority needs for IDPs are Food and non food items (shelter, mosquito nets, blankets, cooking/water utensils…)

• Many people have been displaced more than once

• IDPs are desperate when they can not produce their own food

• In many circumstances, international pressure has succeeded in stopping fighting

• Priority needs for IDPs are Food and non food items (shelter, mosquito nets, blankets, cooking/water utensils…)

• Many people have been displaced more than once

• IDPs are desperate when they can not produce their own food

• In many circumstances, international pressure has succeeded in stopping fighting

From our experience

Activities

1. By the coordination office in Goma- Overall supervision of the program in the DRC- Supervision of the operation of field offices- Contact with government authorities at the provincial/ministerial levels

- Contact with agencies and NGOs at the coordination level

- Contact with donors

Activities …

2. By Kisangani Field office - Agriculture (seeds and tools + technical

agricultural advice) for vulnerable households

- Nutrition for malnourished children + food security for their families

- Construction of water facilities- Construction of social facilities (mainly

maternities and schools)- School gardening

Activities

3. By Beni Field Office - Therapeutic and supplementary

nutrition for malnourished children in Kayna

- Food security (seeds and tools + agricultural technical advice for the families of malnourished children)

- Food security (seeds, tools, petty livestock + agricultural technical advice) for IDPs and returnees

Activities …

4. By Bunia Field Office- Food security (Seeds and tools +

agricultural technical advice) for IDPs and returnee households

- Construction of water facilities- Construction of school facilities

In addition to these activities, LWF works on

• specific project such as school feeding (Food For Education) with WFP

• Psychosocial activities for the war victims

• Environmental awareness raising• Awareness raising on Gender and

Sex Based Violence + HIV/AIDS

• Responses are carried out with funds from :- ACT International- Related agencies and their back donors (FCA and the Finnish Gvt, DEA and the German Gvt, DCA and the Danish Gvt, Cos and the Swedish Gvt…)- The Pooled Fund- UN Agencies

The main activities are carried out with a longer term perspective, i.e. teaching the communities the necessary skills to continue the activities beyond the project duration

LWF’s DRC first experiences

• First experience with ECHO for a project in agriculture (joint DKH/LWF)

• First longer term project under preparation for Kubagu

• First agreement with UNHCR under way

• First attempt to access funds from the Spanish Government (Through DCA)

Present situationPresent situation

• Kisangani region much more stable• Ituri region partially stable but tension

persists in some areas• Lubero: terrorized population, limited

access to plantations, armed people harvest what has been planted

• Kisangani region much more stable• Ituri region partially stable but tension

persists in some areas• Lubero: terrorized population, limited

access to plantations, armed people harvest what has been planted

Conclusion

ASANTEASANTE