Reference :
V-P-CD-E-01932
Date :
2013
Caption :
South Kivu, Kigubube. A civil society briefing.
Confidentiality level :
public
Publication restrictions :
publication without restrictions
Description :
ICRC website, Operational Update, 20/08/2013
Excerpt:
Over the past month, fighting has continued between armed forces and groups in both North and South Kivu, in particular in the territories of Niyragongo, Masisi and Beni in North Kivu, and on the Ruzizi plain and in Shabunda Territory in South Kivu. Fighting erupted recently around the city of Baraka in Fizi Territory, South Kivu, and also in the Ituri and Tshopo districts of Eastern Province.
The ICRC has been adapting its response to a very volatile environment in order to meet the needs of conflict victims in the best way possible and to overcome problems of access. "Communities in the most unstable areas of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo live in constant fear. Some are even forced to move away to escape the fighting, threats and looting," said Alessandra Ménegon, head of the ICRC delegation in the country. "Our staff remain on the ground, close to the hardest-hit communities. Civilians are suffering many kinds of trauma, both physical and psychological."...
Raising awareness of the rules of customary international humanitarian law
In awareness-raising sessions, ICRC staff in the field endeavour to persuade members of armed forces and groups to respect civilians. Over the past two months, information sessions on international humanitarian law have also been held for new battalions of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
At participatory meetings with some communities in the Kivus, the ICRC provides information on counselling centres ("maisons d'écoute") that offer psychological help for victims of acts of violence, especially sexual violence. The ICRC supports some 40 such centres in the Kivus.
The ICRC also collects information on violations of international humanitarian law such as acts of sexual violence and child recruitment. It shares any information of this kind directly and confidentially with the armed forces or groups involved. The aim is to bring about changes in the way weapon bearers behave towards civilians and people not taking part in hostilities.
...
Original material :
digital
Resolution :
4288x3216
Orientation :
landscape
Colour/B&W :
colour
