Refugees International advocates will be traveling to the Democratic Republic of the Congo from April 5th to April 26th, 2008 to conduct an assessment mission on the situation of internally displaced people and the humanitarian response in eastern DRC. Refugees International (RI) last visited the DRC in fall 2007 to assess the response of the UN peacekeeping mission, MONUC, to civilian protection needs. On this mission, RI will focus on the response by UN agencies and international non-governmental organizations to the humanitarian situation, as well as the transition to early recovery among the displaced communities in the eastern part of the country.

Despite the fact that DRC is moving forward with the Goma and Nairobi peace processes, there are still concerns about the security situation and human rights abuses that prevent displaced people from returning home. RI’s last mission in North Kivu documented the need for humanitarian actors to step up human and material resources to ensure that civilian protection remains a priority given the level of human rights violations and the impunity surrounding it. RI continues to be concerned about the recurrence of sexual and gender based violence and child recruitment.

The mission will provide an opportunity to assess the obstacles hampering prospects for full recovery of internally displaced people in eastern DRC and advocate for action by the government and its international supporters to maintain their response.