Cablegate: Idps and Humanitarian Situation in Central Katanga

VZCZCXRO1333
RR RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR
DE RUEHKI #1004/01 1780751
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 270751Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4205
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KINSHASA 001004

SIPDIS

AIDAC

SIPDIS

AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA- MMARX, CGOTTCHALK, MSHIRLEY
AID/W FOR DCHA/FFP- TANDERSON, NCOX, TMCRAE
AID/W FOR DCHA/OTI- RJENKINS, KHUBER
AID/W FOR AFR- KO'DONNELL, JBORNS
NAIROBI FOR USAID/OFDA/ARO- JMYER, ADWYER
NAIROBI FOR USAID/FFP- DSUTHER, ADEPREZ
ROME FOR USUN FODAG- RNEWBERG
GENEVA FOR NYKLOH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREF CG
SUBJECT: IDPs AND HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN CENTRAL KATANGA

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Summary
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1. (U) Security in the triangle Pweto-Mitwaba-Manono has
significantly improved as large groups of Mai Mai combatants
continue to surrender on a daily basis. A visiting USAID/OFDA
evaluation team did not note any support in Mitwaba for surrendering
Mai Mai fighters from CONADER, the national body in charge of
ex-combatants. This situation worries humanitarians, as it might
deteriorate if not quickly addressed and prevent the remaining Mai
Mai combatants that are still in the forest from surrendering.
However, improved security has triggered the return of some of the
estimated 170,000 IDPs in Katanga including 10% of the total number
of IDPs in Dubie. The IDPs remaining in camps unanimously expressed
their desire to return home, but are awaiting several conditions,
including the end of the school year in mid-July, an order from
local authorities, a guarantee for humanitarian assistance upon
return, and the end of the elections (the first round of which is
scheduled for July 30). Although the IDP camps in Mitwaba and Dubie
appeared to be functioning fairly well, food remains the major
problem for most IDPs inside or outside the camps. Future
humanitarian programs in the area need to focus on assisting IDPs in
their home areas. END SUMMARY

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Background
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2. (U) Fighting involving government forces and factions of Mai Mai
dissidents resulted in the displacement, according to UNOCHA, of an
estimated 170,000 people over the past 7 months in northern/central
Katanga. Malemba-Nkulu, Mitwaba, Pweto, and Manono are the
territories of central Katanga most affected. On May 12 "Gedeon",
one of the main Mai Mai commanders, surrendered to MONUC forces in
Mitwaba along with some of his lieutenants. Since then, security in
the Pweto-Mitwaba-Manono triangle has significantly improved.
Following the surrender of Gedeon, IDPs that were still trapped in
the forest have started to emerge from their hiding places to seek
assistance in Mitwaba.

3. (U) OFDA/DRC Rep Victor Bushamuka and OFDA Principal Regional
Advisor John Myer visited central Katanga from June 14 to 19, 2006.
The objective of the visit was to assess the humanitarian situation
and identify the need for future USAID/OFDA assistance in the area.
During the visit to Malemba-Nkulu, Mitwaba center, and Dubie, OFDA
Reps met with different groups of Internally Displaced Persons
(IDPs) and humanitarian actors in the area.

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IDPs
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4. (U) Malemba-Nkulu, which is believed to have the largest number
of IDPs in central Katanga, has an estimated 53,000 displaced
people. Most of the Malemba-Nkulu IDPs are located on the right bank
of the Congo River in the localities of Mulongo, Museka, and
Kayumba. They live in small groups and have constructed straw huts
in villages along the main roads. According to the IDPs, most of
them are from within the Malemba-Nkulu territory in areas that
border Manono territory to the west. They are believed to have fled
their villages in January.

5. (U) In Mitwaba and Dubie, the majority of IDPs are in camps.
According to Doctors Without Borders (MSF), the IDPs are estimated
to number around 9,000 in Mitwaba center and 14,000 located in Dubie
camps. There are other camps in Mitwaba territory that were not
visited by OFDA Reps during this visit. IDPs in Mitwaba are of the
same Bazela ethnic group as the local residents and have originated
mostly from the north of Mitwaba center in Mitwaba and Manono
territories. However, the IDPs of Dubie are of the Baluba ethnic
group while the local residents are Bazela. These two ethnic groups
used to be enemies and have had several open conflicts in the past.
IDPs in Dubie do not feel welcomed by the local population.

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Situation in the Camps
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6. (U) The camps in Mitwaba and Dubie appeared to be functioning
fairly well. IDPs receive food rations from the World Food Program

KINSHASA 00001004 002 OF 003

(WFP) and CARITAS. However, many IDPs complained about the quantity
and the regularity of food distribution. Despite the alleged
scarcity of food, there were not many visible signs of malnutrition
among children in the camps. MSF-Holland is assisting IDPs with
basic health care and Action Against Hunger (AAH) provides for
malnourished children. However, AAH is only assisting severe cases
and moderate cases are directed to the nuns of the Catholic Church.
Water appeared not to be a major problem for the moment, but it is
expected to become an issue later in the dry season as the water
level in wells drops.

7. (U) All humanitarians and IDPs considered food to remain the
major problem for most IDP households in Malemba-Nkulu, Mitwaba, and
Dubie. To survive, the IDPs in these areas often work for food in
agricultural fields of local residents, for which they are paid
about 1 kg of cassava flour ($0.25) for two days work. In addition,
in Mitwaba and Dubie, work is only available in remote agricultural
fields that are as far as 15 km away from the camps. Most IDPs
admitted to have already sold the non-food items received in the
camps to buy food. The most commonly sold items include blankets,
cooking pots, and clothes.

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Return Movement of IDPs
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8. (U) It is a custom for IDPs to send emissaries back to check on
the conditions in their villages to judge if it is better to stay in
the camps or return home. Recent emissaries have brought back the
news of improved security following the surrender of Gedeon and his
troops. They also found that some cassava crops were left intact
throughout the insecurity period. Many IDPs indicated that they were
convinced of restored security in their villages only when they saw
some "white people" -meaning INGO expatriates- safely visiting their
villages.

9. (U) The return movement that started in May was mostly observed
in Malemba-Nkulu and Dubie, but little movement was seen in Mitwaba.
According to IDPs, the majority of households that have returned
have done so to protect their cassava fields from bush fire, which
is commonly practiced at this time of the year in the area. Although
it is not clear why Mitwaba has little return movement, it is
believed that MONUC and high humanitarian presence near the camps
might have played a role in people's decision to remain in the
camps. In addition, the fact that the IDPs in Mitwaba are the same
ethnic group as the locals makes the IDPs feel at home. In Dubie,
MSF-Holland registered 1,400 IDPs that have returned in the last
month, representing 10% of the total number of IDPs in the area.
Unlike Dubie, the IDP return movements in Malemba-Nkulu are
difficult for humanitarians to quantify as IDPs are scattered
throughout a vast area.

10. (U) The IDPs contacted by USAID/OFDA Reps unanimously expressed
their desire to return home. When asked why they have not yet
returned, the majority indicated they are waiting for the end of the
school year in mid-July. Others are waiting for the security green
light from local authorities, a guarantee for humanitarian
assistance in their villages upon return, and the end of the
elections scheduled for July 30. President Kabila, during his recent
visit in Dubie, promised to send a team that would facilitate IDPs
to participate in the elections. Most of the IDPs never registered
and those who did had to get rid of their registration cards by fear
of being killed by Mai Mai if found carrying one. This has also
encouraged some IDPs to remain in the camps for vote registration as
promised.

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Surrendering of Mai Mai and Potential Security Issues
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11. (U) Since Gedeon was arrested, large groups of Mai Mai
combatants have followed suit, surrendering on a daily basis in
Mitwaba. As of June 16, there were about 500 Mai-Mai combatants that
have surrendered in Mitwaba. On the day of the USAID-OFDA Reps'
visit, 44 Mai Mai combatants with about 160 dependents arrived in
Mitwaba. The Mai Mai fighters handed in their weapons, but were
still wearing their feathers and had their faces painted, which are
believed to provide magical protection and repel bullets. They were
chanting and appeared relieved to have left the harsh existence of
life in the forest. According to MSF-Belgium, the Mai Mai combatants
they have spoken to indicated that they are tired of fighting the

KINSHASA 00001004 003 OF 003

gorilla war. In the campaign to encourage their surrender and
disarmament, Mai Mai combatants were promised assistance and the
opportunity to go through the demobilization or integration
"brassage" process soon after they turn themselves in.

12. (U) When they arrive in Mitwaba, Mai Mai combatants and their
families are accommodated in camps that are separated from those for
civilians. They are receiving no assistance from the Commite
Nationale de Disarmement et Reintegration (CONADER), a national body
that is in charge of ex-combatants. Some of the Mai Mai families
have been in the camps for almost a month without assistance.
Humanitarian organizations in the area are worried that the
situation might deteriorate if not quickly addressed. Many
humanitarian actors believe that the lack of assistance could
prevent the remaining Mai Mai combatants that are still in the
forest from surrendering and continue to create insecurity in the
area.

13. (U) Making the situation worse, the first wave of Mai Mai
combatants that surrendered between November last year and February
2006 were sent to Lubumbashi to go through the demobilization
process. These ex-combatants have now returned with their
demobilization packages to their families living in civilian camps.
According to MSF-Belgium, this has increased tension among the
combatants that are still waiting for their demobilization packages.
We were also told that the situation is tense as food is distributed
to civilian IDPs in camps in the presence of hungry Mai Mai
combatants.

14. (U) IDPs in the three areas visited are publicly saying that
they are not going to tolerate living with the ex-combatant families
once they return back in their villages. According to IDPs, the
rebels, who caused them much suffering, are only being tolerated now
because they are still in camps, indicating that clashes between the
two groups is likely when they relocate in their villages. This
issue was first highlighted by INGOs Premiere Urgence and Catholic
Relief Services in their assessment mission reports conducted in
Malemba-Nkulu in April.

15. (U) Another development that worries humanitarian actors in the
area is the report -not yet conformed- of a battalion of FARDC that
has rebelled in Pweto since June 15. The mutineers cited lack of pay
and military rations as causes of their action. They are believed to
have allied with Mai Mai groups that refused to surrender.
Apparently, the presumed mutineers have taken refuge in an area
within the Pweto, Manono, and Moba triangle where fierce Mai Mai
attacks on FARDC and populations are being reported by humanitarians
in the area.

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Future Assistance Strategies
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16. (U) According to IDPs and humanitarians that have visited the
ravaged areas in Malemba-Nkulu, Manono, and Mitwaba all public
infrastructure including schools and health centers have been
destroyed. The IDPs will be returning to villages where their houses
have been destroyed and, for the most, crop fields that have been
looted. Although some lucky ones will find their cassava crops still
standing, a poor harvest is expected due to the lack of maintenance
during the long period of displacement. There are also many bridges
leading to major return areas that need to be repaired if assistance
is provided to these villages in the future. The major return axes
include Dubie-Mitwaba and Mitwaba-Manono.

17. (U) To facilitate the return of IDPs in areas that are already
declared secure, USAID-OFDA has requested that its partners focus on
assistance programs in IDPs home areas. In this regard, the United
Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has planned on expanding its
food security program to new return areas 150 km west, 135 km
northwest, and 40 km north of Dubie. Premiere Urgence, another
USAID-OFDA partner intends on launching a food security program for
returnees in the territory of Malemba-Nkulu on the right bank of the
Congo River. Representatives of both MSF-H and MSF-B indicated to
USAID-OFDA Reps that they also plan on assisting IDPs in return
villages with basic healthcare programs.
MEECE

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