Democratic Republic of the Congo

AT A GLANCE
Main Objectives
and Activities
Provide protection and assistance to
refugees from Angola, Burundi, the
Republic of the Congo, Rwanda,
Sudan and Uganda; assist and facil-
itate the safe return of refugees to
and from the Democratic Republic
of the Congo (DRC) by establish-
ing or reactivating tripartite agree-
ments between the refugees’ coun-
try of origin, the country of asylum
and UNHCR; encourage local set-
tlement and initiatives conducive to
self-reliance for refugees from
Angola, Burundi, Rwanda, Sudan
and Uganda, paying special atten- Persons of Concern
tion to the needs of women, chil- Main Refugee Total Of whom Per cent Per cent
dren and the environment. Origin/Type of in UNHCR Female under 18
Population Country assisted1

Impact Angola (Refugees) 175,400 108,800 54 64

Sudan (Refugees) 72,900 34,000 47 58
• Out of a total of 332,400 Rwanda (Refugees) 46,200 1,500 62 54
refugees in the DRC from Burundi (Refugees) 19,800 760 50 47
Angola, Burundi, the Republic of DRC (Returnees) 14,800 640 - -
the Congo, Rwanda, Sudan and Uganda (Refugees) 13,000 1,100 - -
Uganda, UNHCR provided pro- Rep. of the Congo 5,100 2,100 45 50
(Refugees)
tection and assistance to 148,260
DRC (IDPs) ,,- 3,000 - -
refugees on a regular basis. 1
In addition, UNHCR assisted some 3,600 urban refugees.

• 108,800 Angolan refugees were

Income and Expenditure (USD)
assisted in the provinces of Bas-
Annual Programme Budget
Congo, Bandundu and Katanga;
Revised Income Other Total Total
as a result, they became partially Budget from Funds Funds Expenditure
self-reliant. Contributions1 Available2 Available
23,487,499 7,111,407 13,342,355 20,453,762 20,453,762
• 7,175 Angolan refugees repatri- 1
Includes income from contributions earmarked at the country level.
2
Includes allocations by UNHCR from unearmarked or broadly earmarked contributions, opening
ated voluntarily with UNHCR’s balance and adjustments.
assistance. The above figures do not include costs at Headquarters.

• 1,400 Rwandan and 400 Burundi refugees were • UNHCR provided assistance to some 2,100
locally settled in Mbuji-Mayi. As a result of Congolese (Brazzaville) refugees in two camps (Luozi
UNHCR’s interventions, the Government allocated and Kimaza) from January to March and in one camp
land to enable the refugees to achieve self- (Kimaza) from April to December (after Luozi was
sufficiency. closed).
• 23,340 Rwandan refugees repatriated from the Kivu • 5,520 Congolese refugees were assisted to return from
regions with UNHCR’s assistance. Bas-Congo to the Republic of the Congo.

104 — UNHCR Global Report 2000

• Some 34,000 Sudanese refugees in three locations trict. Conversely, some 600 Congolese returned home
(Aba, Dungu and Biringi) benefited from UNHCR’s with UNHCR’s assistance.
assistance geared towards local integration and partial
Despite the ongoing conflict, the DRC continued to
self-reliance.
receive refugees and, by the end of the year, hosted some
• Roughly 3,600 urban refugees were locally settled in 332,465 refugees. UNHCR registered some 22,000
Kinshasa and Lubumbashi. new Angolan arrivals in Bandundu, Bas-Congo and
Katanga, bringing the total number of Angolan refugees
• UNHCR funded 78 income-generating projects
in the country to some 175,400. UNHCR assisted some
designed to make urban refugees more self-sufficient.
108,800 of them to integrate locally. An estimated
20,000 Burundi refugees remained scattered in the
WORKING ENVIRONMENT forests of South Kivu. A group of 760 of them located
The Context in Mbuji-Mayi (Kasai Oriental) was assisted by
UNHCR to settle locally. Due to the improved security
The DRC has been at war since 1998. Most of the situation in the Republic of the Congo, most of the
neighbouring countries are either also afflicted by inter- Congolese refugees repatriated voluntarily in 1999.
nal conflict (Angola, Burundi, Sudan and Uganda) or in UNHCR provided protection and assistance to 2,100
a fragile post-conflict recovery phase (the Republic of out of the 5,100 remaining Congolese refugees living in
the Congo and Rwanda). Efforts to achieve peace in the Luozi and Kimaza camps (Bas-Congo). An estimated

Democratic Republic of the Congo

DRC have been frustrated by repeated violations of the 46,000 Rwandan refugees lived in various locations in
cease-fire agreement signed in 1999 in Lusaka. the DRC, but remained inaccessible for security reasons.
Moreover, the planned inter-Congolese dialogue has not UNHCR assisted 1,500 of them living in Mbuji-Mayi
taken place, mainly because President Laurent Desire (Kasai Oriental) to integrate locally. During the year,
Kabila objected to the former President of Botswana, some 3,500 new Sudanese refugees arrived in rebel-
Ketumile Masire, serving as facilitator. The DRC is fur- controlled Province Orientale. Following a registration
thermore continuously destabilised by an intricate net- exercise, the Sudanese refugees in the country totalled
work of regional cross-border alliances between govern- 73,000. UNHCR implemented a local settlement pro-
ments, rebel movements and other insurgent groups, the gramme for about 34,000 of them in Aba, Dungu and
whole further complicated by ethnic conflict within the Biringi to consolidate their local integration and self-
DRC. This results in continuous population displace- sufficiency. The 13,000 Ugandan refugees living in
ment, makes repatriation highly unlikely for the fore- Beni, Boga and Irumu (Province Orientale) remained
seeable future and undermines peace initiatives. inaccessible throughout the year.
As fighting continued unabated throughout the year, Constraints
the deployment of the United Nations Observer
The operational environment was unrelentingly diffi-
Mission in the DRC (MONUC) was not possible. The
cult. Military risks rendered humanitarian access
continued fighting produced a regular flow of about
extremely limited in certain areas. Most areas in the
1,000 refugees per month from the Kivus in the east to
DRC were difficult to reach; transport was many times
the refugee camps in Tanzania (a total of 12,000 by the
only possible by air or river, while road transport, where
end of the year). In addition, the advance of the
feasible, was lengthy, costly and dangerous. Poor roads
Rwandan army in Katanga Province in the south-east
and infrastructure deteriorated even further during the
prompted the outflow of some 14,000 refugees to
rainy season. UNHCR did not have the funds to
Zambia. Finally, confrontations in the north-west, in
address this huge problem. The inadequacy of the
Equateur Province, between rebel and government
UNHCR transport fleet (only one plane for all opera-
forces caused the flight of more than 85,000 villagers to
tions in the DRC covering more than 15 destinations)
the Republic of the Congo, where they are dispersed
and deteriorating assets (locally hired light vehicles and
along the river, at the border between the two countries.
trucks) hampered UNHCR’s interventions during the
By the end of the year, there were more than 310,000
year. As a result, non-food items were often distributed
Congolese refugees in neighbouring countries. In addi-
late, and contingency stockpiles were depleted.
tion to cross-border flight, the conflict resulted in the
internal displacement of an estimated 1.8 million peo- UNHCR’s operations in the DRC were further con-
ple. The ethnic conflict in the north-east between the strained by the Government’s financial regulations,
Hema and Lendu groups alone caused the internal dis- which imposed an official exchange rate and led to esca-
placement of more than 100,000 people in the Ituri dis- lating operational costs for all UN agencies. This

UNHCR Global Report 2000 — 105

resulted in a general shortage of basic supplies, such as national eligibility commission. In mid-1999, UNHCR
fuel and spare parts. was requested by representatives of the Ministry of the
Interior to assist with the drafting of the Congolese
In addition, WFP could not provide a full food basket,
refugee legislation in accordance with international
i.e. ensure an uninterrupted supply of staples such as
refugee instruments signed and ratified by the DRC.
flour, pulses and oil.
The text proposed by the DRC officials was revised and
Funding amended by UNHCR. However, the military conflict
made it difficult for the State apparatus to function effi-
The lack of adequate funding during 2000 affected the
ciently and by the end of 2000 the document was still
smooth and continued provision of assistance through-
unfinished.
out the year, resulting in increased levels of vulnerability
and insecurity for refugees and staff. The worst affected The incoming refugees rarely found security in the
were the Angolan refugees. Most of these refugees DRC. Access to them remained not only difficult, but
arrived in a very poor nutritional state, but UNHCR also dangerous. Many refugees and internally displaced
could not procure supplementary food to augment persons (IDPs) had to survive without assistance. The
WFP’s reduced food rations. UNHCR was unable to lack of an appropriate registration and documentation
establish new camps for them further away from the system severely restricted the refugees’ freedom of move-
border (to improve protection and facilitate the delivery ment, often resulting in harassment and arbitrary arrest.
of assistance). Furthermore, UNHCR could not under- A matter of urgency for UNHCR is the registration of
take vital road and bridge rehabilitation to facilitate all refugees in government-controlled territory and, as
access to the refugees. In Kinshasa, UNHCR could not far as possible, the issuance of identity documents. A
cover all the assessed needs of urban refugees. Income- working team comprised of UNHCR and government
generating activities were curtailed and, with them, the representatives was created in December in order to plan
refugees’ potential to achieve self-sufficiency. a registration exercise.
Conflicts in countries of origin prevented UNHCR
ACHIEVEMENTS from promoting the voluntary repatriation of refugees
A N D I M PAC T and reactivating or establishing tripartite agreements as
planned. Repatriation from the DRC therefore
Protection and Solutions remained limited to facilitated movements to Rwanda
(23,340), Angola (7,175) and the Republic of the
Ensuring admission and preventing refoulement were
Congo (5,520).
UNHCR’s major protection challenges in the DRC in
2000. In the DRC, there is no national refugee status The conflict in the DRC has widespread political and
determination procedure and there is consequently no economic ramifications, which tend to negate any
prospects of self-reliance, let alone
local integration, for the refugees.
Burundi and Rwandan refugees
were, nevertheless, given their own
settlement area in Kasai Oriental
in 2000. The Angolan refugees in
Kahemba (Bandundu) and the
Sudanese and Ugandan refugees in
Province Orientale needed to be
relocated further away from the
border; this, however, could not
take place. The consequences were
considerable risks for refugees and
staff and the undermining of
progress made in achieving self-
reliance. Some progress was never-
theless made in discussions with
government authorities on access
to the border.

106 — UNHCR Global Report 2000

The presence of armed elements in the Sudanese Domestic Needs/Household Support: More than 11,100
refugee sites remained a matter of concern. There were metric tons of wood were bought and distributed to
reports of harassment, armed robbery, theft of livestock about 19,000 Angolan refugees living in camps in
and extortion. Despite regular discussions with rebel Kimpese (Bas-Congo) and Kahemba (Bandundu) and
authorities, as well as information sharing, awareness- to Burundi and Rwandan refugees in Mbuji-Mayi
raising and training, these incidents remained a (Kasai Oriental). Burundi and Rwandan refugees in
problem. Mbuji-Mayi also received 205 boxes of soap purchased
locally. An additional 25 metric tons of wood were dis-
Resettlement is increasingly becoming the only durable
tributed to 100 local families and 345 vulnerable per-
solution for refugees who are in a life-threatening situa-
sons in the area. Non-food items were distributed to
tion. UNHCR facilitated the departure of five persons
Congolese refugees in Kimaza camp (Bas-Congo)
and another 27 were accepted for resettlement. The sub-
deemed to be vulnerable. Non-food items were also
mission of eligible cases for resettlement was, however,
given to new arrivals from south Sudan and to vulnera-
hindered by the lack of protection staff. Some 144 cases
ble Sudanese refugees living in the sites in Province
were still pending by the end of the year. A request was
Orientale.
made for the deployment of a resettlement expert to be
seconded to UNHCR for an initial period of three Education: With UNHCR’s assistance, roughly 15,477
months. Angolan children (46 per cent girls and 54 per cent
boys) attended primary schools, while 1,294 Angolan

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Activities and Assistance children (30 per cent girls and 70 per cent boys)
attended secondary schools. Ten classrooms were con-
Community Services: In the Kimpese area (Bas-Congo)
structed for the Angolan refugee children. The Office
and in Kisenge (Katanga), second-hand clothes and
assisted 627 Congolese children to attend primary
shoes (13 bales of clothes and 50 pairs of shoes) were
schools (46 per cent girls and 54 per cent boys). Some
distributed to vulnerable Angolan refugees. Some 6,370
3,755 Sudanese children also attended primary schools
persons benefited. Angolan refugees benefited from
(42 per cent girls and 58 per cent boys) and 345
other activities, such as cultural and recreational work-
Sudanese children took secondary school courses.
shops. Angolan refugee women were helped to set up
Seventeen classrooms were constructed, one classroom
their own bakeries. Ten bales of second-hand clothes
was rehabilitated, 120 desks were built and 90 rehabili-
were distributed to Burundi and Rwandan refugees in
tated for the Sudanese refugee children. In addition,
Mbuji-Mayi (Kasai Oriental). Some 70 Burundi and
university-level distance learning (in English) was
Rwandan refugees were engaged in sewing, tailoring and
offered for the first time. The Sudanese refugees taking
embroidery workshops. Roughly 485 vulnerable
these courses will gain an international certificate upon
Congolese persons were provided with social services
completion. Life skills courses, such as Education for
assistance. About 145 Sudanese women were organised
Peace, were introduced in all refugee settlements.
in agricultural co-operatives and assisted with income-
Among the urban refugees, 100 students (25 girls and
generating projects covering sewing, embroidery, tree-
75 boys) were enrolled in higher education.
planting, brickwork and soap-making using local prod-
ucts. Tracing and reunification of unaccompanied Fisheries: UNHCR assisted a group of Sudanese
minors was carried out throughout the year. Some 120 refugees with the preparation of 15 ponds, out of which
Sudanese unaccompanied minors were identified, of eight were provided with fish.
whom 20 were reunited with their families. In addition,
Food: In Kahemba (Bandundu), 14 metric tons of maize
75 Rwandan unaccompanied minors were assisted in
and seven metric tons of peanuts were distributed to
Mbandaka (Equateur Province) while awaiting transfer
Angolan refugees. Some 6,280 kilos of vegetable oil,
to Kinshasa for eventual repatriation to Rwanda and
28,130 kilos of maize, 430 kilos of beans and 900 kilos
reunification with their families.
of salt were bought and distributed to Burundi and
Crop Production: Seeds and tools were distributed to Rwandan refugees in Mbuji-Mayi (Kasai Oriental) and
more than 15,000 Angolan refugees and 1,500 local in the Katshisungu area. WFP provided more than 330
farmers in Katanga Province and Kahemba (Bandundu). tons of maize, 50 tons of beans, 21 tons of cooking oil
Farming tools were purchased locally and distributed to and 3.3 tons of salt, which were distributed to
Burundi and Rwandan refugees in Mbuji-Mayi (Kasai Congolese refugees in Kimaza camp (Bas-Congo).
Oriental). Seeds and tools were distributed to Congolese UNHCR purchased food commodities locally to ensure
refugees in Mbanza Ngungu district and to Sudanese continued supplies in view of the frequent disruption of
refugees in Province Orientale. the WFP food supply line and to provide 1,900 kcal per

UNHCR Global Report 2000 — 107

day per person for the Angolan, Burundi, Rwandan and Operational Support (to Agencies): In an effort to
Congolese refugees. During 2000, no food was deliv- strengthen the management of implementing partners,
ered to the Sudanese refugees. UNHCR provided them with funds to cover adminis-
trative support costs, such as office rental, furniture,
Forestry: Despite limited funds, reforestation activities
supplies, processing material and salaries. Special atten-
were implemented in refugee settlements and their sur-
tion was given to strengthening the capacity of national
roundings to minimise the impact of deforestation.
implementing partners.
Congolese refugees received seedlings from an imple-
menting partner for planting around their compounds in Sanitation: Some 251 latrines were constructed in the
Kimaza camp (Bas-Congo). More than 157,000 forest camps and in the area hosting the displaced Sudanese.
trees and more than 3,600 fruit trees were germinated and Existing latrines were renewed.
distributed to Sudanese refugees in Province Orientale
Shelter/Other Infrastructure: Two camps accommodat-
and the local population to combat deforestation.
ing new Angolan arrivals (Kilueka and N’Kondo in Bas
Health/Nutrition: Six nutrition and feeding centres in Congo) were rehabilitated and equipped, using materi-
Katanga and two in Bandundu were rehabilitated and als bought locally. Three bridges were rehabilitated in
equipped. This resulted in a decrease in malnutrition the Kisenge area (Katanga). Sites accommodating the
rates among the Angolan refugees. More than 17,000 Burundi and Rwandan refugees were maintained to a
children received treatment in a nutritional centre in satisfactory standard. Kimaza camp (Bas-Congo), where
Katanga and 286 in a therapeutic centre. Sick refugees the Congolese refugees live, was rehabilitated and
were treated in existing medical centres installed in equipped. The site was enlarged with the construction
each camp. An existing dispensary in Mbuji-Mayi of 50 houses, including 465 rooms for the Congolese
(Kasai Oriental) ensured primary health care for refugees transferred from Luozi camp. UNHCR reha-
Burundi and Rwandan refugees. Complicated medical bilitated a transit centre in Kinshasa to host the 500
cases were referred to the hospital and costs covered returnees from Sudan who became displaced due to
accordingly. UNHCR employed a doctor to treat insecurity prevailing in their place of origin.
Congolese refugees in an existing dispensary in the
Kimaza camp area (Bas-Congo); complicated medical Transport/Logistics: More than six warehouses were
cases were referred to Mbanza-Ngungu hospital. Four rented for the storage of food and non-food items to be
health posts were provided for Sudanese refugees in distributed to Angolan refugees. Warehouses were also
Aba and Dungu sites (Province Orientale); an existing rented in Mbuji-Mayi and Mwene-Nditu (Kasai
health post was rehabilitated. Support was also given to Oriental) for the storage of food and non-food items for
Aba and Dungu hospitals. More than 3,600 Sudanese Burundi and Rwandan refugees. Trucks and trains were
children were vaccinated against measles and all chil- rented to transport Congolese refugees, as well as 80
dren were vaccinated against poliomyelitis. Medical metric tons of food and 15 metric tons of non-food
assistance was provided to 500 returnees from Sudan items, from Mbuji-Mayi to the Katshisungu area. Eight
who became displaced due to insecurity in their area of bicycles and two motorcycles were bought for monitor-
origin. Five general medical kits were distributed to ing activities. Twenty km of road from Mbanza-Ngungu
public medical centres in the location of the displaced. to Kimaza camp (Bas-Congo) were rehabilitated,
Sanitary items and condoms were distributed. Baby including a bridge. UNHCR assisted its implementing
care kits were also distributed. partner with the logistics of distributing food and non-
food items to Congolese refugees in Kimaza camp.
Income Generation: Among Sudanese refugees, income-
Some 302 km of roads and six bridges were rehabili-
generating activity funds benefited some 130 women’s
tated to facilitate access to Aba and Dungu sites
co-operatives and provided 25 refugee women with
(Province Orientale) where the Sudanese refugees are
sewing skills and 56 women with soap-making skills
accommodated.
using local products.
Water: Six water sources were developed in Kahemba
Legal Assistance: UNHCR staff carried out regular
(Bandundu) and two water systems were installed in
monitoring and provided assistance when refugees were
N’Kondo and Kilueka refugee camps (Bas-Congo) host-
involved in judicial matters. UNHCR assisted the local
ing Angolan refugees. An implementing partner trucked
authorities in the issuing of birth, marriage and death
604 metric tons of water to Mbuji-Mayi (Kasai
certificates to the refugees.
Oriental) for the Burundi and Rwandan refugees. Eight
Livestock: With UNHCR’s support, a group of Sudanese water tanks were purchased and installed in three tran-
refugees started poultry breeding with 242 chickens. sit centres. UNHCR provided three boreholes with

108 — UNHCR Global Report 2000

manual water pumps and one water truck to ensure a Offices
supply of 20 litres per person per day to Congolese Kinshasa
refugees in Kimaza camp (Bas-Congo). Eight water Aba
sources were developed, 12 boreholes drilled or rehabil- Aru
itated and four manual pumps installed in the Sudanese Biringi
refugee sites in Province Orientale. Twelve committees Bukavu
were formed by the refugees and the local population for Dungu
the management of these water structures. Goma
Kahemba
Kimpese
ORGANISATION Kisenge
AND IMPLEMENTATION Lubumbashi
Luozi (closed in April)
Management Matadi
Mbandaka (closed in April)
In addition to its main office in Kinshasa, UNHCR Mbanza Ngungu
maintained 13 offices in the DRC. The Luozi and Mbuji-Mayi
Mbandaka offices were closed in April. A total of 31 Partners
international and 162 national staff, including one JPO NGOs

Democratic Republic of the Congo

and seven UNVs, were working in the DRC in 2000. Actions et interventions pour le développement et l’en-
cadrement social
Working with Others Association pour le développement social et la sauvegarde
de l’environnement
In 2000, UNHCR worked with six international and Atlas
12 national partners. In Kinshasa and in the Kivu Caritas (DRC)
provinces, UNHCR maintained close linkages with Croix Rouge (DRC)
other UN agencies within the framework of the human- Equipe d’urgence de la biodiversité
itarian co-ordination process. In particular, UNHCR Equipe mobile et gestion de la logistique
worked closely with WFP for the delivery of food, with Human Dignity in the World
FAO for the provision of seeds and tools, and with Human Protection Association
UNICEF for the provision of baby care kits to pregnant International Rescue Committee
refugee women. At the central and local levels, UNHCR Médecins Sans Frontières (France)
OXFAM (Canada)
organised assessment missions with the Ministry of
World Vision International
Internal Affairs and local authorities in charge of refugee
Other
matters.
Diocèse de Boga
Diocèse de Boma
OVERALL ASSESSMENT Diocèse de Mahagi
UNHCR’s operations in the DRC were hampered by International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies
the ongoing war, the country’s division into four areas
Gouvernorat du Nord Kivu
(one government-controlled and three rebel-controlled
areas) and the lack of progress in the peace process.
Nevertheless, the Office managed to improve refugee
protection, to assist refugees in the satisfaction of their
basic needs and to prevent major conflicts with the local
population.
A transition from UNHCR’s programme to rehabilita-
tion and development programmes remained difficult
or impossible in the DRC. The presence of other agen-
cies in refugee-hosting areas is minimal and those agen-
cies that are there are limited in their capacity to imple-
ment activities complementary to UNHCR’s.
Infrastructure in refugee-hosting areas is invariably
unable to absorb the additional burden of refugees and
therefore requires considerable support.

UNHCR Global Report 2000 — 109

 Financial Report (USD)
Current Year's Projects Prior Years' Projects
Expenditure Breakdown notes notes
Protection, Monitoring and Co-ordination 5,933,017 0
Community Services 414,652 513,414
Crop Production 295,204 661,383
Domestic Needs / Household Support 351,914 254,082
Education 354,271 734,299
Fisheries 5,049 48,706
Food 135,678 310,448
Forestry 85,034 175,331
Health / Nutrition 1,093,211 1,731,119
Income Generation 86,853 282,850
Legal Assistance 131,801 80,868
Livestock 8,246 31,170
Operational Support (to Agencies) 962,319 830,841
Sanitation 111,815 143,494
Shelter / Other Infrastructure 427,191 430,315
Transport / Logistics 2,574,966 4,396,607
Water 204,965 1,541,220
Instalments with Implementing Partners 2,916,440 (10,426,889)
Sub-total Operational 16,092,626 1,739,258
Programme Support 3,747,562 268,447
Sub-total Disbursements / Deliveries 19,840,188 (3) 2,007,705 (6)
Unliquidated Obligations 613,574 (3) 0
Total 20,453,762 (1) (3) 2,007,705

Instalments with Implementing Partners

Payments Made 8,885,223 4,359,768
Reporting Received 5,968,783 14,786,657
Balance 2,916,440 (10,426,889)
Outstanding 1 January 0 16,682,848
Refunded to UNHCR 0 255,962
Currency Adjustment 0 (1,777)
Outstanding 31 December 2,916,440 5,998,220

Unliquidated Obligations
Outstanding 1 January 0 2,645,288 (6)
New Obligations 20,453,762 (1) 0
Disbursements 19,840,188 (3) 2,007,705 (6)
Cancellations 0 637,583 (6)
Outstanding 31 December 613,574 (3) 0 (6)
Figures which cross reference to Accounts:
(1) Annex to Statement 1
(3) Schedule 3
(6) Schedule 6

110 — UNHCR Global Report 2000