Andrea Jeska, October 2012
Despite an informal ceasefire agreed between the army and the M23 rebels, the situation has not improved for the civilian population in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Thousands of people have fled from their homes to avoid the ongoing violence and, according to figures provided by human rights organisations, the situation in North Kivu province is now worse than ever before. Aid agencies have set up tents around GomaThis town in the east of DRC is situated on the northern banks of Lake Kivu, which lends its name to the regions of North and South Kivu. more, the capital of the province, but there are too few refugee camps. In the Kibati camp outside the city, refugees have built temporary huts using bamboo poles and banana leaves but they don't really keep out the rain. The approximately 50,000 refugees, including 30,000 children, are forced to sleep on the ground. According to a report released by the United Nations, 100,000 refugees do not have access to supplies, meaning they're outside the reach of the aid agencies. These people are either caught up behind the front lines, stuck in the regions controlled by the rebels or hidden deep within the nearly impenetrable terrain of the province's forests. It is said that around 1,000 people have fled into the neighbouring UgandaThe average elevation of the Republic of Uganda is 1,000 metres above sea level in the Central African Highlands. more, but there is no information about how many have made it to Rwanda.
And as if things weren't bad enough, the situation in GomaThis town in the east of DRC is situated on the northern banks of Lake Kivu, which lends its name to the regions of North and South Kivu. more is comparable to the Wild West. Gunfire can be heard every night, and it's said that more than 60 people have already lost their lives on the streets of the city. Although the Minister of Interior, Richard Muyej Mangez, promised to re-establish order as soon as possible, he admitted that government staff and army soldiers who are involved in selling weapons and drugs are responsible for the violence. 6,000 soldiers have been stationed in GomaThis town in the east of DRC is situated on the northern banks of Lake Kivu, which lends its name to the regions of North and South Kivu. more to secure the city. But rather than ensuring safety, they're supplementing their pay by robbing, looting and selling weapons.
According to the German daily newspaper taz, a Kalashnikov rifle only costs 20 dollars in GomaThis town in the east of DRC is situated on the northern banks of Lake Kivu, which lends its name to the regions of North and South Kivu. more. The Minister of Interior has asked the population to help by reporting suspicious people. He also stated that houses will be subjected to searches and the border to Rwanda, which runs along the edge of GomaThis town in the east of DRC is situated on the northern banks of Lake Kivu, which lends its name to the regions of North and South Kivu. more, will be closed.