04/22/2005

Photo Credit: Reuters Alertnet/David Lewis courtesy www.alertnet.org
Congolese aid workers and transporters ride on a lorry along the main road in the southwestern town of Kinkala

Civil wars since 1997 have created a large population of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Republic of Congo. Due to insecurity, many humanitarian agencies ceased operations. The 2002-2003 conflict sent between 100,000 and 150,000 people from the devastated Pool region, near the capital, Brazzaville. An estimated 57% of the displaced fled to neighboring villages and forests where they created makeshift shelters and huts. Very few families returned to the Pool region due to fear of the Lari rebels, known as Ninja. Persistent fighting between the Lari rebels and the government resulted in massive organized looting, house and office burning, the destruction of the rural economy and the devastation of the Lari people. The current population of IDPs remains unknown because many were not included in the official return process that took place in March of 2002. In March 2003, the Congolese government and the National Resistance Council, representing the Ninja rebels, signed a peace agreement that continues to hold today. Despite this peace agreement, most of the rebels have yet to disarm and many have returned to banditry. In April 2004, the government closed all IDP camps, forcing the displaced to find shelter and support on their own initiative. Access to the region of displacement remains extremely difficult for humanitarian agencies due to the lack of infrastructure.