Highlights
Following the large-scale displacement in Lubero territory, North Kivu province, deterioration of inter-ethnic tensions between Hutu displaced populations and Nande local community resulted in clashes with casualties on both sides, despite reconciliation efforts made by the government and MONUSCO.
The security situation remained volatile, as armed groups continued attacks against populations in Mambasa territory, Ituri province, displacing an estimated total of 7,000 individuals. Cases of human rights violations continued to be reported, including sexual violence. While child recruitment remains a major concern, 49 children were released from armed groups and received transitional care through UNICEF support.
Floods continued to affect a large part of the country along the Congo River, including Tshopo, Maniema and Mongala provinces, with an estimated total of over 500,000 people affected since the end of 2015. Consequently, a new cholera outbreak was reported in Tshopo province with 187 cases including 21 deaths as of the end February. As immediate response, UNICEF supported the government with essential WASH and health supplies and additional assistance is planned for early March.
Since January 2016, a total of 3,355 cases of cholera were reported in the country with 48 deaths, mainly in the provinces of Tshopo, South Kivu, Haut Lomami, Tanganyika, Haut Katanga and Ituri.
In February, approximately 5,000 South Sudanese refugees settled in Dungu territory, Haut-Uele province, bringing the total estimated number of new arrivals to over 11,000 since November 2015.
On 23 February, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban KiMoon, arrived in DRC for an official visit where he attended a presentation of the Capoeira for Peace project.
SITUATION IN NUMBERS
29 February 2016
4,500,000 # of children affected out of (HAC 2016)
7,500,000 # of people affected (HAC 2016)
1,600,000 # of internally displaced persons (IDP) (HNO, November 2015)
250,016 # of registered refugees (HNO, November 2015)
UNICEF Appeal 2016 US$ 130 million Funding level 17%