In DR Congo, Ituri civilians trapped in murderous cycle — ICRC

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KINSHASA - Conflict and armed violence in Ituri Province in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are trapping civilians in a murderous cycle, with thousands suffering in silence, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said.

The humanitarian organisation said it has distributed food to almost 12,000 people who have returned home after leaving everything behind when they fled armed attacks.

"Every family in the chieftancy of Mambisa, Djugu territory has received essential items such as kitchen utensils, soap and blankets, along with enough food to last them one month," ICRC said in a statement.

"When they returned after fleeing a series of armed attacks and violent incidents in August, most found their houses burned down and their property looted."

The ICRC said it is helping people fleeing the violence and those who are trying to return home, with the aim of meeting people’s immediate needs, but their main concern is security.

Huge cross in front of the Cathedral of Bunia, Ituri, Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa. (AFP)

The organisation gave accounts of some of the affected people, whose names it said it had changed, likely for safety reasons.

One of them is Therese. One of her children was killed, and others were seriously injured. Her house was burned down during the attack on her village. “Before the war, I lived here with my nine children and my grandchildren,” she said.

“Our house wasn’t very big, but it was enough for us. I never imagined I would see the blood of my children shed in my house, or that war would suddenly take my house away from me.”

For many years, Ituri has endured cycles of violence – military operations, clashes between armed groups and increasing numbers of incursions, attacks and other violence directly targeting the civilian population. And this despite international humanitarian law (IHL) prohibiting attacks that target civilians or civilian property.

The consequences are grave – death, injury, mass displacement, sexual violence, ill-treatment, child recruitment and the loss of homes and livelihoods.

According to ICRC, civilians are paying the price, bearing the brunt of the violence and the consequences of breaches of IHL and humanitarian principles.

'I can’t go back'

Chronic conflict and violence have sapped the resilience of communities and impeded their access to essential goods and services.

"Most people are afraid that they will be killed if they return to their farms in areas where weapon-bearers are present. The majority of the population are farmers, and their inability to grow food is aggravating shortages," said the ICRC.

According to the UN, some 1.5 million people in Ituri are suffering food insecurity. Under the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, the situation corresponds to Phase 3 or worse, with Phase 3 being defined as “crisis”.

Joséphine has been receiving assistance from the ICRC.

“Since 2017, I have had to move several times, and I have lived in four different places. I come from Fataki in Djugu territory, where my family had fields and property. I can’t go back, because the situation there is still unstable, and there’s nothing left.”

People are finding it harder to obtain health care, just when the number of casualties with weapon wounds is increasing because of rising violence.

ICRC said health facilities in areas affected by attacks and violence are struggling to operate normally and are unable to provide adequate care for the sick and wounded.

"Facilities have been attacked and looted, and some qualified personnel have fled. Most facilities are experiencing shortages of medical supplies and a lack of equipment. Casualties have to travel long distances to obtain proper treatment," said the organisation.

The medical facilities that are still operating have been dealing with increasing numbers of weapon-wounded patients, especially during July and August, when a large number of attacks occurred.

Médecins Sans Frontières is supporting Salama Clinic in the provincial capital, Bunia. They report having received over 350 patients with weapon wounds since the beginning of the year, with more than 200 arriving between July and October alone.

“The ICRC is supporting a number of medical facilities in the territories of Djugu and Irumu,” explains Alfred Wadie, the deputy head of the ICRC’s Bunia sub-delegation.

“Our teams have seen a drop in the number of women and children attending those facilities, mainly because the lack of security is making it harder for people to get there.”

Simultaneously, mass arrivals of internally displaced persons are increasing the pressure on water infrastructure, and a shortage of resources is creating community tensions.

Water is in short supply in areas affected by displacement, in urban areas, in host families and at sites where displaced people are living. This is forcing some families to use untreated water sources, which carry the risk of water-borne disease.

Mental and psychosocial vulnerability

In addition to losing family members and property, people seeking refuge are experiencing severe psychological suffering, especially in connection with family separation or the consequences of sexual and other violence.

"The majority of those subjected to repeated violence are suffering psychological trauma as a result of their loss and pain," said the ICRC.

The violence in many parts of Ituri – increasingly including areas that were previously places of displacement and refuge – is forcing people to move back and forth repeatedly, making them even more vulnerable.

ICRC teams supporting mental health and psychosocial support facilities are seeing hundreds of people with mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. This situation is affecting the stability of the entire community.

“We call on all parties to the conflicts and all those involved in armed violence in Ituri to be aware of the dramatic impact on civilians,” said François Moreillon, who heads the ICRC delegation in the DRC.

“They absolutely must take the measures needed to protect civilians and their property against all forms of attack and against the consequences of their fighting, in accordance with IHL and with humanitarian principles.”