Title: Precarious conditions and call for help: the Kanyaruchinya displaced persons camp in North Kivu
Introduction :
In the territory of Nyiragongo, in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is the Kanyaruchinya displaced persons camp. For several months, thousands of people, or around 47,000 households, have been living there in extremely precarious conditions. Lack of access to food, exposure to contagious diseases such as measles and cholera, and violence are the sad daily lives of these people who fled Rwandan aggression under cover of the M23.
A deplorable observation:
During a visit to the Kanyaruchinya site, the delegation from the National Fund for Reparations for Victims of Sexual Violence Related to Armed Conflicts and Crimes Against the Peace of Humanity (FONAREV) was able to observe the deplorable conditions in which these displaced people live. A report from the IDP camp shows 46,427 households living in inhumane conditions, with an alarming number of deaths due to diseases linked to lack of hygiene.
A cry for help:
The displaced people of Kanyaruchinya only aspire to one thing: to return to their villages accompanied by the Congolese armed forces. They denounce the occupation of their villages by unknown persons in areas under the control of M23 terrorists, supported by Rwanda. Living conditions in the refugee camp are unbearable, and the needs are immense: housing, care for school children, support for women victims of violence, etc.
FONAREV’s commitment:
The FONAREV delegation, led by its general director Lucien Lundula Lolatui, is committed to providing effective support to victims. Faced with the scale of needs on the ground, FONAREV will set up aid programs to improve the living conditions of displaced people from Kanyaruchinya and other refugee sites in the North Kivu province.
Meeting with the active forces of the province:
As part of their roaming mission, the FONAREV delegation also met the active forces of the province. Women leaders of women’s organizations working in the areas of women’s empowerment, the fight against gender-based violence and the promotion of peace interacted with the delegation. The interim military governor of North Kivu was also present to discuss the humanitarian situation and urgent actions to be taken.
Conclusion :
The challenges facing those displaced from Kanyaruchinya and other refugee sites in North Kivu are immense. FONAREV is committed to implementing concrete actions to improve their living conditions and provide effective support to victims.. It is essential that the international community mobilizes to help these people who live in deplorable conditions, and work to find a lasting solution to this conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.