Goma, July 12, 2023: UNFPA is committed to scaling up its interventions in the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri. This commitment is in synergy with the decision of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) to activate a system-wide scale-up in the Eastern DRC following a flare up in the protracted armed conflict in the eastern part of the country, compounded by disease outbreaks including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters. This fragile humanitarian situation has led to some 6,29 million displaced and disaster-stricken people living in deplorable conditions in the east of the country.
UNFPA Resident Representative, Dr Eugene Kongnyuy, announced the scaling-up of UNFPA's humanitarian interventions in the provinces concerned, and has deployed an emergency team there. Commenting on the situation in the East, he said: "Recognizing the enormous scale of humanitarian needs and the necessity to respond appropriately, UNFPA has decided to intensify its operations in Eastern DRC to ensure a more effective and large-scale response. These interventions will strengthen sexual and reproductive health services and specifically protect women and girls against gender-based violence".
As part of this reinforcement of interventions, a team of a dozen specialists has been deployed to the East to support UNFPA staff already present on the ground. During a rapid needs assessment focusing on reproductive health (RH), gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), more than 1,000 visibly pregnant women and girls and other vulnerable people and internally displaced people affected by the conflicts in North Kivu (Goma, Beni, Nyarangogo and Karisimbi), and Ituri (Bunia) and South Kivu (Kalehe), received assistance with dignity kits. This assistance also served as an entry point for other interventions including medical, psychosocial, legal and judicial support for victims of sexual violence as well socio-economic reintegration. UNFPA is also supporting access to Family Planning services and management of Sexual Transmitted infections including HIV. To ensure delivery of these services, UNFPA provided health centres with reproductive health kits to ensure women and girls access quality services and strengthen health system preparedness to respond to the crisis.
As the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA supporting access to a holistic range of services and organized mobile clinics in the IDP sites in North Kivu province including the camps of RUSAYO, BULENGO and KANYARUCHINYA where services and information on reproductive health, gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) were offered free of charge to women and girls.
Living conditions in IDP sites and return areas remain precarious in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri. The lack of lighting, overcrowding, vulnerability and the absence of doors and locks on shelters, showers and latrines increase the risk of gender-based violence in IDP camps (Information from Safety audit report – GBVAoR). UNFPA seeks to protect the lives of conflict-affected populations by promoting sexual and reproductive rights, deploying the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for sexual and reproductive health, and preventing and responding to GBV and SEA.
In order to achieve its results within the framework of this scale-up, UNFPA has a financial requirement of 18,850,000 US dollars for six (6) months. To date, the organization has only mobilized 3,000,000 (16%) and has a financial gap of 15,850,000 US dollars (84%).
UNFPA will continue to work with other partners and donors to drive interventions that improve the lives of people in the East, and to mobilize resources to support ongoing efforts by the humanitarian community and the Congolese government.
For further information, please Contact :
Siaka Traoré, Communication Specialist
Tél : +243 815 786 999, Email ; traore@unfpa.org
Ali Dotian Wanogo, Senior Emergency Coordinator, Eastern DRC
Tél :+243 818 302 436, Email: wanogo@unfpa.org
Pacifique Kigongwe, Humanitarian Coordinator
Tél : +243 811 206 432, Email : kigongwe@unfpa.org
