” This humanitarian crisis remains one of the most neglected in the world “, declared Bintou Keita, the head of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Monusco) on March 29, 2023 in New York during a meeting of the UN Security Council where the resurgence of violence armed groups in eastern DRC was discussed.
With our correspondent in New York, Carrie Nooten
On March 29, 2023, the United Nations Security Council condemned the resurgence of violence by armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), while the UN denounces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, for which the rest of the world is totally disengaged.
Violence between the M23 movement and Congolese FARDC soldiers, as well as clashes with the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO) and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have particularly inflated the number of displaced people in the country.
Hostile and volatile environment
The representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in the DRC and head of MONUSCO, Bintou Keita, detailed the latest report on Congo-Kinshasa: for the UN, the security situation has deteriorated even more, and the organization is overwhelmed the armed groups that clash in the east of the country, in particular the M23.
Not only that, 2022 was the deadliest year for Monusco blue helmets in a hostile and volatile environment. But, above all, the explosion in the number of displaced persons is notable: 900,000 more in North Kivu, 1.5 million in Ituri. And the humanitarian plan for the DRC of 2.25 billion dollars this year is struggling to find funding.
A statement condemning and calling for the dissolution of armed groups
” This humanitarian crisis remains one of the most neglected in the worldsays Bintou Keita. I condemn the continuing obstacles to humanitarian access, including the helicopter attack in February 2023 which forced the World Food Program (WFP) to temporarily suspend its flights to conflict areas “.
Around the Council table, all the ambassadors, who have just returned from a stay in the DRC, were indignant at this worsening of the situation. A declaration was even officially presented to this effect to send a strong message to the armed groups, condemning them and calling for their dissolution. Thirteen of the fifteen countries also made a statement in support of the women and girls of the DRC, assuring that the recommendations of the representatives of civil society will be hammered home here at UN headquarters.
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