SITUATION REPORT

IOM DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO Emergency Operations and Coordination

in North Kivu Province

BACKGROUND

Last months, the overall security situation in North Kivu province remained relatively calm despite the launch of SOKOLA II, the military operation aimed at tracking down members of the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) rebel group.

However, in Masisi territory, the Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo (FARDC) confronted the Alliance des patriotes pour un Congo libre et souverain (APCLS) armed group in Nyabiondo, Lukweti, Kinyumba, Lwibo, and Bikunje villages. This fighting affected the Nyabiondo/Birere displacement site, where most of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) fled to the MONUSCO base, a nearby church and a MSF health centre for a few days to seek shelter and protection. The humanitarian community and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in charge of coordinating four (4) displacement sites on this axis, closely monitored the situation to quickly respond to the most urgent needs, once the security was improved.

In Goma, IOM built upon the results achieved in the framework of its biometric registration pilot project and used this approach in the delivery of targeted assistance in displacement sites around Goma. The effectiveness of this method and its permanent integration into the humanitarian response was materialized through the recent food distribution organized in two displacement sites.

On 9 March 2015, IOM also joined displaced women living in displacement sites around Goma to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Finally, IOM participated from the 13th to 15th of February 2015 to the Amani Festival, seizing this opportunity to sensitize festival-goers on its role in humanitarian response and migration crisis management in North Kivu Province.

Food distribution in displacement sites coupled with biometric registration

Between April and December 2014, IOM carried out biometric registration operations in displacement sites around Goma. These operations, which are part of IOM’s emergency program in the North Kivu Province have proven to be useful to key humanitarian stakeholders.

Indeed, one of the intended results of IOM’s biometric project was to allow the verification of IDPs for the delivery of assistance. Only IDPs living in displacement sites who have been registered and verified through biometrics and who hold a post-biometric registration token can benefit from humanitarian assistance.

On the 12th of February 2015 and on the 5th and the 6th of March 2015, the World Food Programme (WFP), in cooperation with World Vision International (WVI) organized food distributions in Nzulo and Buhimba displacement sites. This activity inaugurated the use of the biometric verification system and materialized its effective integration in humanitarian assistance.

The process involved in the food distribution was the following:

1. Call of IDPs by WVI based on the verified list provided by IOM. A pre-verification token is given to the verified IDP.

2. The IDP is guided to the IOM verification desk where he/she must provide the pre-verification and post-biometric tokens. The IDP is checked through the biometric system (fingerprints).

3. If the IDP is recognized by the verification system, he/she is authorized to access the distribution table where he/she signs the WVI distribution list.

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UPDATE February-March 2015

In this issue

Food distribution in displacement sites coupled with biometric verification.

Celebration of International Women’s Day.

Amani Festival, a way to contribute to peacebuilding initiatives.

Food distribution in Nzulo displacement site, Goma, North Kivu, February 2015 ©IOM 2015

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4. After he/she has been assisted, the post-biometric registration token barcode is read, recorded and the IDP is registered by the system as having been assisted. He/she gives back the pre-verification token.

Figures between the partners are crosschecked for enhanced accountability and transparency. The approach will henceforth be integrated into the humanitarian response in displacement sites where biometric registration has been carried out.

Celebration of International Women’s Day International Women's day is celebrated on the 8th of March of every year. On the 9th of March 2015, IOM joined displaced women living in displacement sites around Goma gathered at the Mugunga I displacement site to celebrate this day and sensitize them on economic empowerment.

The displaced women expressed themselves through activities such as folk dances, theaters and testimonies.

IOM staff, through testimonials and pictures related the accomplishments of migrant and displaced women around the world, showing how it is important for women to be at the centre of their own empowerment.

For their part, the displaced women wished that empowerment activities carried out in the displacement sites would preserve families from falling into addiction. They also whished to be able to commemorate the 2016 International Women’s Day in their places of origin, out-side the displacement sites.

Amani Festival, a way to contribute to peacebuilding initiatives From the 13th to 15th of February 2015, the city of Goma moved to the rhythm of the Amani festival. African, regional and local artists sang and 30,000 people from Goma and its surroundings danced for peace.

Humanitarian and development actors, including IOM, constituted a village with stands, conveying messages of peace and discussing their achievements and contributions to the populations of North Kivu Province.

IOM took this opportunity to show its contribution to the humanitarian response to the migration crisis of North Kivu . Visitors to the IOM stand could take note of IOM’s commitment alongside the Congolese government in coordinating displacement sites. They could also see actions achieved by IOM in consolidating the rule of law, peace, economic development and the restoration of State authority. IOM staff was present at the festival and could explain IOM’s mandate. A video on the daily life of IDPs in the displacement sites and the challenges of restoring peace was also shown to give visitors an idea of some aspects of internal displacement in North Kivu.

Displaced women performing in a play during International Women’s Day Festivities Goma, March 2015 ©IOM

For more information, please contact:

Monique VAN HOOF, Emergency Programme Coordinator, mvanhoof@iom.int +243(0)82 248 7445 Flora CAMAIN, Information Management Officer, fcamain@iom.int +243(0)81 512 4095 Germain MULUME ODERHWA, Protection Officer, nmulumeoderhwa@iom.int +243 (0)815 77 7705 Félicien MIBULO, Senior Site Coordination and Site Management Assistant / Trainer, fmibulo@iom.int +243 (0)82 277 7875

IOM’s participation in the Amani Festival in’ Goma, February 2015 ©IOM

Contact: Hans-Petter BOE, IOM DRC Chief of Mission | hpboe@iom.int | www.drcongo.iom.int