Mission in Uganda/DRC

• Two AI field missions to North Kivu province, eastern DRC, and to refugee sites along the Uganda/DRC border in southwestern Uganda.

• Interviews of victims of or eyewitnesses to recent human rights abuses in North Kivu.

• Meetings with senior representatives of the government military and armed groups, international humanitarian NGOs, UN agencies and peacekeeping commanders, as well as local human rights activists.

Humanitarian situation of DRC refugees:

• Early in November, nearly 70% of the population of North Kivu was either displaced or hosting IDPs

• According to MONUC, the total estimate number of registered IDPs in North Kivu is close to 1,350,000 people which means that more than 1 out of 4 North Kivu inhabitants is currently displaced in the province

• CNDP reportedly destroyed IDP camps and placed conditions on the delivery of humanitarian aid to displaced population leaving in CNDP control area. This appears to be a strategy to maintain control on the local of military control over the civilian population living in the CNDP controlled zone.

• Ten of thousands of Congolese fled into Uganda

• Total new arrival population in Nakivale camp since August 2008 is 9’800

• 4’000 refugees in the newly established Transit Centre in Mutanda, 26 km away from the border

• Approximately 6’500 self-settled refugees around Busanza border point, in Kisoro

Agency Activity

UNHCR Overall coordinator with OPM

UNICEF Water and Sanitation

MSF-France Health, Water and Sanitation

Uganda Red Cross & ICRC

Non Food Items

WFP Food and Nutrition

CESVI Health services

AIRD Shelter

CARE International Non Food Items

Oxfam Water

Main problems:

- No aid at the border

- Very little protection in DRC

- Lack of security for the delivery of aid

- Humanitarian aid not sufficient

- Cases of cholera in Nakivale camp

Human rights violations:

• War crimes, including deliberate unlawful killings of civilians

• Widespread sexual violence committed by government and armed forces

• Recruitment and use of children as fighters by armed group forces

• Threats against human rights activists, journalists and community health workers

Recommendations:

• MONUC's reinforcement

• Pressure on the national army and armed groups to halt human rights abuses

• Ending the presence of FDLR

• Ending the arms proliferation

• Reform of the national army

• Ending impunity