Indeed, the region of Oicha in the territory of Beni in the Democratic Republic of Congo is facing a major humanitarian crisis. The attacks and massacres perpetrated by the ADF rebels forced more than one hundred and nine thousand people to flee their homes and take refuge in the commune of Oicha.
In this context, the NGO Caritas Butembo-Beni, in collaboration with the World Food Program (WFP), launched a humanitarian assistance operation to help displaced people and vulnerable host families in the region. This assistance takes the form of the distribution of food, including cereals, legumes, vegetable oil and cooking salt.
According to François Kaputu, program manager at Caritas Butembo-Beni, this area was selected because of its vulnerability in terms of food security, the result of multi-sector assessments carried out. Indeed, the displaced no longer have access to their fields, which prevents them from meeting their food needs. This food distribution therefore aims to meet the urgent needs of the populations most affected by this crisis.
For the displaced and host families, this food assistance is a breath of fresh air. Imelda Kavira Shaghonere, president of the Oicha IDP Committee, stresses the importance of this aid, but recalls that peace remains the fundamental need to enable the displaced to find their land and resume a normal life.
Food distribution began on Thursday and is expected to last ten days. However, it is essential to underline that the needs remain acute and that many displaced people are outside the official sites, which further complicates their situation. In addition to food assistance, it is necessary to support these displaced people in other aspects of their lives in order to enable them to rebuild their future in a sustainable way.
In conclusion, the food assistance provided by the NGO Caritas Butembo-Beni and the WFP to displaced persons and host families in Oicha is a crucial response to the humanitarian crisis raging in the region. However, it is crucial to continue mobilizing resources and providing comprehensive support to enable affected populations to regain stability and dignity