Congo-Kinshasa: High Level Monuc Delegation Visits North Kivu

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United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa)

18 July 2008
Posted to the web 18 July 2008

Tahirou Diao

Mr. Ross Mountain, UN Humanitarian Coordinator and Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in the DRC, and MONUC Force Commander General Babacar Gaye undertook a 24 hour evaluation mission to North-Kivu on 16 -17 July 2008.

The MONUC delegation had a series of work meetings with their colleagues in Goma, as well as representatives from the DRC Armed Forces (FARDC), the Amani Programme and a number of international humanitarian organisations.

Upon arrival Mr. Mountain had a meeting with several MONUC officials including MONUC Goma head Mr. Alpha Sow. Mr. Mountain gave a progress report on the Amani process and the problems encountered by the Mixed Technical Commision on Peace and Security.

He also gave a progress report on the Stabilisation Plan, in particular the launch, by MONUC chief Alan Doss, of rehabilitation works on the Saké-Masisi road two weeks ago.

Mr. Mountain finally expressed major concerns relating to the financing of the Goma process, the Stabilisation Plan, the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) process and work of the Joint Committee.

Joint Committee negotiations continue between MONUC and the various potential donors. MONUC Eastern Brigade commander General Singh then briefed Mr. Mountain on the security situation, and the military operations in progress.

General Babacar Gaye had a work meeting with General Mayala, Commander of the FARDC 8th Military region and his assistant Colonel Delphin Kahimbi. General Gaye then went to a DDR camp to inspect rehabilitation work for a new headquarters in Goma, where he was satisfied with the progress and quality of the work.

On 17 July, Mr. Mountain held a work meeting in OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) with humanitarian and UN agency representatives in North Kivu. The latter exposed the difficulties which they encounter on the ground, because of the insecurity which persists in certain zones in the province.

In the last months, several humanitarian agents on mission inside the province were victims of attacks by armed men who did not hesitate to strip them of their goods.

In response to these concerns, Mr. Mountain reassured them, saying that MONUC was going to reinforce blue helmets on the ground, although these capacities remain limited.

He called on the various organizations for better coordination to ensure their own security. An important point of the discussions related to the food crisis which affects the food distributions of the UN World Food Programme (WFP).

OCHA explained the situation of internally displaced persons, who number 850,000 in North Kivu. If military operations are led against the FDLR, this figure which could increase by up to 200,000.

Mr. Mountain then flew by helicopter over the second priority road of Rutshuru-Ishasha, whose rehabilitation by MONUC is envisaged to start from August.

On his return Mr. Mountain made a short stopover at MONUC's base in Rutshuru, where he was briefed on the operations in progress in the zone, which has a strong concentration of displaced people.

The purpose of his stopover was to reinforce the work carried out in this zone by MONUC Goma, aimed at restoring a climate of trust after a period of significant unrest.

Before returning to Kinshasa, Mr. Mountain chaired the work of the regional IMPT committee of the east.

The discussions related to the implementation and progress of the Stabilisation Plan, the installation of follow-up and evaluation mechanisms relating to civilians, the reinforcement of the regional and provincial IMPT and the extension of the Amani Programme.

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