Refugee Crisis in the DRC

1. Refugee Crisis in the DRC Amethyst A. Roth Group 2 INR 3253 - DW59 July 3, 2010 Photo taken by Andrew Roth at Mugunga 3 internally displaced people camp just 10 kilometers outside of Goma, DRC. There were over 45,000 refugees at the time.

2. Introduction . . . There are many refugees/internally displaced people (IDPs) in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a result of war between several militia groups and the Congolese National Forces (FRDC). This widespread instability has caused this influx of IDPs desperate for basic living necessities like water, food and shelter. As a result, many international aid organizations working in conjunction with the Congolese government have stepped in to assist these IDPs. All of these factors have created a crisis within the state and international community which requires resources (finances and manpower). The purpose of this photo essay is to illustrate the problem, analyze its effect on the country and neighboring regions and present possible solutions to the crisis. The crisis in DRC has many variables, offering complexities that are difficult to understand at a glance.

3. History - Past Issues The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been victim of war and greed since the late 1800’s when Belgium under King Leopold II laid claim to the geographical area of present day DRC. Belgian Colonials brutally treated the Congolese. It is estimated that around 10 million Congolese died as result of exploitation and disease. In King Leopold’s Ghost it was said that a government commission found the population to be cut in half between 1880 and 1920. (Hochschild 1998, 233) BBC World News provided these photos when reporting about the legacy of King Leopold II, who arguably left the most horrifying legacy throughout Africa. Bottom is a picture of men of the “Congo Free State” walking to their death, a punishment incurred for not collecting enough rubber.

4. History – Past Issues This foundation of bloodshed and greed has carried over throughout the history of the Congo as it became part of the culture. History and culture are very much integrated. As it has been said time and again, history has a way of repeating itself. This is especially the case with the DRC. One can see the history with leaders such as Belgian colonial rulers, MoiseTshombe, Joseph Mobutu, Laurent Kabila and Joseph Kabila. This photo was taken by an AP reporter and submitted to the Telegraph in an article about the rebels trying to take the North Kivu capital city, Goma. Left photo taken by Walter Astrada of GETTY. Congolese soldiers pass by their former base that was overrun by CNDP rebels at Rumangabo, DRC in November 2008.

5. History – Militia Groups As war and violence have been a part of the culture of the DRC many militia groups have arose to take power or challenge it. After years of oppression and mounting civil unrest in 1997 Laurent Kabila formed a rebel army and marched across the country from the east to the west taking every village on his way. They were aided by Tutsis from Uganda who entered into the Congo looking for extremist Hutus lingering from the Rwandan Genocide. After taking power, Kabila faced rebel attacks from his former counterparts Rwanda and Uganda who aided in ousting Mobutu. Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola came to the help of Kabila. (Mealer 2008, 6-7) Left and Top photos are attributed to AP and Welton Online News. Both are pictures of the CNDP militia groups lead by Laurent Nkunda in November 2008. Child soldiers lining up in eastern DRC. Photo taken by GETTY and submitted to Telegraph.

6. History – Militia Groups and Effects As war and instability have displaced millions of Congolese people, they have moved to internally displaced people (IDP) camps throughout the country. Massive war began in 1998 with many armed militia groups operating in the DR Congo. Since the war ended in 2002, there has still been a high prevalence of armed militia groups operating in the DRC. (Coghlan et al. 2007, 6 and 18) To keep peace, over 20,000 UN peacekeepers have been dispatched. The Congolese Army (FRDC) has failed to protect their civilians from rebel militias and have been guilty of brutal human rights violations against their own people. Many militia groups such as the CNDP, FDLR, Mai Mai, Interhamwe and LRA still operate in the DRC. (IDMC 2009, 11) This photo of a rebel aiming a RPG was taken by an Associated Press (AP) reporter.

7. History – IDPs in DR Congo Often, rebel groups raid and pillage villages, kill the innocent, conduct mass rapes and recruit child soldiers. Since 1998 over 5.4 million deaths occurred as a result of war, disease and starvation. An estimated 3.4 million people have been forced to leave their homes. (IDMC 2009, 8 and 61) In North-Kivu province alone, over 400,000 people have been displaced as a result of instability since December 2006. (Coghlan et al. 2007, 4 and 6) IDPs are those who take flight inside their own country, not leaving the confines of their national borders. The welfare of these people have gained much international attention as the governments legally accountable for their care and protection are often unable and sometimes unwilling to cope with the IDP situation. (Norwegian Refugee Council 2002, 3) AFP photo taken on the right of a man and his children as they flee their village to Goma. Photo taken by AP reporters when thousands of internally displaced people flee their North Kivu villages. They walk down the main road toward Goma holding everything they possess.

8. Current Issues – Government The protection of IDPs in eastern DRC is of great concern. Members of the FRDC as well as militias have been found guilty of brutal killing, rape, sexual exploitation, looting, plundering, illegal taxation and other human rights violations. As some IDP camps are in remote areas, these camps are more vulnerable to attack. Also, children are more vulnerable to be recruited as child soldiers. (IDMC 2010, 4-5) The government has fallen well short of meeting the needs of the IDPs. They are unable to provide adequate living provisions, necessary security and basic protection. However, as a beginning step the government has adopted the UN’s Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement into national law. (IDMC 2010, 5-6) A Congolese policeman (lower right) tries to stop people entering the Mercy Corps base where UNICEF and International Medical Corps were distributing High nutrition cookies to children at the IDP camp in Kibati, north of Goma. This Photo was taken by GETTY.

9. Current Issues – NGOs and IDPs Another great concern is for the NGOs operating in the unstable areas giving aid and assistance to the IDPs. NGOs are affected by the insecurity of North and South Kivu Provinces and sometimes unable to provide basic assistance to even the IDPs most in need. A majority of IDPs have no access to basic health care, schools, clean water, food, clothes or shelter. This is compounded with the fact that many IDPs missed the 2009 planting season and existing crops have been looted. (iDMC 2010, 5) The tragedy of internal displacement goes beyond statistical data, it reflects a breakdown of society where basic human rights and freedoms as well as economic and social development are compromised. (Cohen 1998, 2-3) This photo was taken by Amethyst A. Roth, visiting the home of Congolese IDPs. The IDP has lived in this home for 3 years.

10. Current Issues – IDPs to returnees The Congolese government has many issues to overcome, namely bringing peace to the country by dispersing all armed militia groups as well as developing a sustainable solution to care for their IDP population. As it is, there is little government support for the general population as many lack some basic necessities of life. Also there is a failure of the judicial system. (Longman et al., IV) The government has developed the Ministry for Solidarity and Human Affairs to address IDPs and their needs. Also, the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defence have been involved but in a limited capacity. (IDMC 2009, 139) Theses photos were taken by Andrew and Amethyst Roth at various NGO hospitals and clinics. These hospitals take teams of experienced doctors to IDP camps and villages to assist with medical needs of the internally displaced.

11. Current Issues – IDPs to returnees cont’d The international non-government organization (NGO) community has done much to come to the aid of IDPs in the absence of government assistance. NGOs working in the DRC have taken over the coordination of IDP camps under the directives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). (IDMC 2010, 4) Numerous NGOs have pooled their resources and objectives together to aid in the care of IDPs and to assist the returnees through the distribution of food and non-food items, providing assistance to returnees and implementing an organized structure for operations. New arrivals at the IDP camp register for an emergency kit. World Vision assists these people with some basic needs like blankets, soap, building materials and children’s clothes. This photo is attributed to World Vision.

12. Current Issues – IDPs to returnees cont’d Until widespread peace is achieved the Congolese IDPs can not return to their villages. One of the top directives of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement is that security decisions should be made with IDPs in mind. This means that it is a top priority to secure regions where IDPs have come from. (Norwegian Refugee Council 2002, 192-194 and 198-199) Without the UN peacekeeping force working in conjunction with the FRDC on a broad scale, achieving peace will be a lengthier process. At current, there are only minimal inter-governmental and organizational agreements to bring lasting peace to the region so that millions of IDPs can become returnees. Top and right photos are attributed to Andrew and Amethyst Roth at IDP camps where people have lived for over 5 years. Photo on the left is attributed to UN OpEd.

13. Current Issues – IDPs to returnees cont’d A further issue is that the Congolese government is urging for a speedier withdrawal of the United Nations forces as the recent mandate expired. With a premature withdrawal of international forces there is a great fear of more chaos and bloodshed as the FRDC is limited in their capacity to adequately protect the country from rebel militias. (IDMC 2010, 6) This photo was taken by Andrew Roth at a MONUC Indian base just outside of Sake. Many of the peacekeepers on this base have already returned back to India as over 2,000 peacekeepers were withdrawn from the DRC last May.

14. Possible Solutions to the IDP Crisis The Congolese government must gain further stability to oversee their military forces and provide the proper structure for assistance and aid to be received by the IDPs so they can transition into returnees. This can only be achieved by working in conjunction with international governmental organizations such as the United Nations, European Union, African Union as well as working with the numerous non-government organizations. Only after a widespread ceasefire occurs can the Congolese government begin to transition the IDPs to become returnees. However, there is much that must be done to provide a structure for these returnees to receive assistance and aid. Even if a region is fully secure most areas have been looted and destroyed. There is no community structure for education, business, farming, health care, etc. as the villages have been overrun. Top photo taken by Amethyst Roth in Goma where an influx of people fight to survive. Many flee the villages to find even basic shelter in the city. Bottom photo taken by Andrew Roth in part of Mugunga IDP camp. Those in this camp have since left this camp as some of the first returnees as prescribed by the UNHCR.

15. Possible Solutions to the IDP Crisis Securing peace is a major monumental achievement goal that may take years to realize. Beyond providing security, there must be a massive influx of community development. The Congolese government does not have the infrastructure and resources for this massive undertaking of resettling over two million IDPs. Yet again, the international community must intervene to provide the necessary aid and assistance. The IDP crisis is complex and difficult. Due to the many issues, it may take years before the IDPs are able to receive adequate structure for returning to their villages. The Congolese government will also have to address many dynamic challenges to bring a lasting solution. These photos were taken by Andrew Roth at Buhimba and Mugunga IDP camps which are made up of thousands of refugees. Many of whom are becoming returnees, others must sit and wait for peace to return.

16. Bibliography Coghlan, Benjamin et al. “Mortality in the Democratic Republic of Congo: An Ongoing Crisis.” Condition Research Report. International Rescue Committee and Burnet Institute, 2007. http://www.theirc.org/sites/ default/files/migrated/resources/2007/2006-7_congomortalitysurvey.pdf (July 3, 2010). The International Rescue Committee is an international aid organization specializing in assisting refugees and victims of armed conflicts around the world. In addition to violence, disease is a common cause of mortality. The Burnet Institute is a world leader in the study of diseases. Combined together, these two organizations collaborated together to produce a comprehensive evaluation of the humanitarian situation through measure of mortality. The report does well to explain the factors, history and details surrounding the IDP crisis in the DRC. At times the report is number intensive but the purpose is to highlight the situation through statistical data. Authors present informative data, facts and findings so one can understand the complexity of the crisis.

17. Bibliography Cohen, Roberta and Frances Mading Deng, editors. The Forsaken People: Case Studies of the Internally Displaced. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press, 1998. Cohen is a guest speaker and Deng is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute. Both are considered to be experts in on internal displacement. This book identifies ten regions suffering from severe internal displacement and the editors and contributors offer their critique and recommendations to overcome. As it is a case study book, the chapters don’t flow together but do refer to concepts or issues previously mentioned: a good book for some general information but not a comprehensive look on the subject concerned. Although no chapter is dedicated to the DRC, many of the problems in Africa have indirect/direct roots to the Congo.

18. Bibliography Hochschild, Adam. King Leopold’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 1999. Hochschild has a background in journalism and thus writes in a journalistic matter. With that said, he uncovers the dark past of the Belgian colonizers. His writing style is not as academic as some may desire but nonetheless he does incorporate a lot of facts from recorded history. The author does make some opinionated statements. He also sensationalizes history as if it were a story but it doesn’t take away from the intended point and message. Definitely one can tell the author is a journalist rather than a historian. But, if even half of what he says is true, one can see why the Congo has evolved into what it is today.

19. Bibliography IDMC. “Activity Report 2009.” Activity Report for 2009. Internal Displaced Monitoring Center. March 2010. http://www.internal-displacement.org/8025708F004BE3B1/(httpInfoFiles)/5BF19E3A12BEB1E7C12577 370035E8B3/$file/Activity_Report_2009.pdf (July 3, 2010). The Internally Displaced Monitoring Center provides comprehensive coverage of conflict-induced displacement around the world. They are seen as a respected source for information and reports regarding displaced people in areas around the world and considered the leading body given the subject matter. Upon reading the Activity Report it is more of just a highlight of the yearly achievements of the Norwegian Refugee Council which did found this center in 1998. The report details the main areas of work and highlights the DRC. The report is broad when discussing the Congo. It has good information but not comprehensive.

20. Bibliography IDMC. “Democratic Republic of Congo: Massive Displacement and Deteriorating Humanitarian Conditions.” A Profile of the Internal Displacement Situation. Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, 12 August 2009. http://www.internal-displacement.org/8025708F004BE3B1/(httpInfoFiles)/28ADEA4D511D15 F3C125762700390BC0/$file/Democratic+Republic+of+the+Congo+-+August+2009.pdf (July 3, 2010). The IDMC put a lot of effort and collaboration into this document, after all their vision is to be a source of information and data collection. Upon reading the document one can see that they pulled from many different studies and reports from many respected sources. This report gives precise details about the history and current issues surrounding the IDP crisis in the DRC. With a lot of data and widely accepted findings the report paints the clear picture of the complexities in addressing the crisis. In the end the report addresses possible resolutions to crisis. Of all the sources this is the most comprehensive.

21. Bibliography IDMC. “Democratic Republic of Congo.” February 2010 Update. Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, February 2010. http://www.internal displacement.org/8025708F004BE3B1/(httpInfoFiles)/F4D1EB858711A38AC 12576D4005079A5/$file/DRC_Overview_Feb10.pdf (July 3, 2010). This particular document from the IDMC is an update about the current situation as of Feb 2010 in the DRC. When reading this report much of the information is repeated from the Democratic Republic of Congo: Massive Displacement and Deteriorating Humanitarian Conditions document which is aforementioned. In terms of the findings of the update as compared to the comprehensive previous document the situation and solutions are the same. The only difference is that document is just a brief summary. A good summary of the complex issues surrounding the IDP situation in the DRC.

22. Bibliography Longman, Timothy et al. “Eastern Congo Ravaged: Killing Civilians and Private Protest.” Human Rights Watch 12, no. 3A (May 2000): IV Failure of the Judicial System. http://www.hrw.org/reports/2000/drc/Drc005- 04.htm#P354_59500 (accessed July 4, 2010). The Human Rights Watch is an international organization dedicated to analyzing injustice and serve as advocates to bring advocacy and justice to areas with human rights violations. Through using highly trained specialist, they try to accurately report on violations of human rights. Human Rights Watch reports and journals are considered by the international community to be accurate and are considered scholarly based on the caliber of personnel doing the reports/journal and the length it takes to produce such documents. In this report, the team worked very hard to compile the data and the data appears to be highly accurate and supports most other findings in other journals and reports. The findings of this journal is exhaustive and gives an in-depth account of the human rights crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

23. Bibliography Mealer, Bryan. All Things Must Fight to Live: Stories of War and Deliverance in Congo. New York: Bloomsbury USA. 2008 Mealer was a journalist stationed in northern DRC during the war taking place in 1996. He saw many atrocities and the book highlights what he witnessed. His accounts for some of the history of the Congo and brings to light some of the dark issues of the DRC. The book talks about historic events but is hardly considered a highly academic book as he basically just talks about what he saw and his opinions about it. A powerful book with its resolve at the end but is not as scholarly as other sources. But this book is a good read to get an idea of the situation going on in the Congo to gain more perspective about the complexities of life in the DRC.

24. Bibliography Norwegian Refugee Council and Global IDP Project. Internally Displaced People: A Global Survey. London: Earthscan Publications Ltd.; 2nd edition. 2002. The NRC and Global IDP Project came together well to create a great book documenting comprehensively the current regions of displaced people. The book highlights nearly every country with IDP issues including the DR Congo. Information about the DR Congo was basic but the purpose of this book is to bring uninformed leaders up to date with the situation. I appreciated how the book was laid out in a clear matter and it provided valuable information. Towards the back of the book it reviewed the United Nations Guiding Principles on IDPs. The layout was well done as the book ended with a resolution and methodology to aid the IDPs.