Hundreds of displaced persons from the territories of Masisi, North Kivu, and Kalehe, South Kivu, have been living in dire conditions in several villages in the Busurungi locality, Waloa Loanda groupement, Walikale territory, North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. They fled their homes due to clashes between the FRN rebels and the Congolese army (FARDC), supported by the Wazalendo. The displaced persons have been in the area for about three months.
According to Hubert Shebirongo, chief of the Busurungi locality, the displaced persons have not received any humanitarian assistance since their arrival. Their survival depends largely on the solidarity of the families that have hosted them. The situation is becoming increasingly worrying as the host families' capacity to accommodate them is being overstretched. Each host family is currently sheltering more than five displaced families.
The host families themselves are struggling to meet their own needs, and the situation is taking a toll on them. "The families that have hosted these displaced persons are themselves destitute. Today, each host family shelters more than five other families. They no longer know how to cope with this situation, as their means are very limited," Shebirongo warned.
The displaced persons are also facing extreme hardship, with many lacking sufficient resources for food, shelter, and healthcare. "It's been about three months since we left our villages due to clashes. Since our arrival in Busurungi, we have not received any humanitarian aid. We depend solely on the goodwill of those who have hosted us. But they too have great difficulty in taking care of us," one displaced person testified.
Another displaced person called on the authorities and humanitarian organizations to intervene quickly. "We fled the violence to save our lives, but we are facing another form of suffering here. We lack food, shelter, and means to get medical care. We ask those of goodwill not to abandon us." The displaced persons are relying on the generosity of their host families, but this support is limited.
According to Shebirongo, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is the only humanitarian organization that has visited the area to assess the needs of the displaced persons. However, this assessment has not yet been followed by concrete assistance. The local chief has appealed to the Congolese government and humanitarian partners to quickly organize a census of the displaced households and provide them with urgent assistance.
The situation is dire, and immediate intervention is necessary to alleviate the suffering of the displaced persons and their host families. The displaced persons are in need of food, shelter, and medical care. The government and humanitarian organizations must act quickly to provide assistance to those in need.
Key points
- The displaced persons in Busurungi, Walikale territory, have not received humanitarian assistance for three months.
- The host families are struggling to meet their own needs, with each family sheltering more than five displaced families.
- The ICRC has assessed the needs of the displaced persons, but no concrete assistance has been provided yet.
