Situation of Persons with Disabilities in Eastern DRC

The Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing another crisis. The Eastern region of the country has suffered repeatedly from war, ethnic clashes and natural disaster. After a period of relative calm, violence has again broken out in North Kivu, and is spreading to the capital Goma, neighbouring Ituri and Kibati, close to the Rwandan border.
 
This is a time of insecurity for the local population. No member of the local population is guaranteed safety, whether from looting and rape by the rebels or violence at the hands of the government forces that purport to protect them. Many have become conflict refugees, fleeing the fighting in exchange for an uncertain life on the road or in makeshift camps seeking shelter or support.

It is estimated that 250,000 people have been displaced by the conflict since August 2008, a number likely to have increased with the encroachment of rebel Tutsi forces and the government troops who seek to contain them.
 
CBM, as one of the international organisations present in the DRC, is committed to improving the quality of life of Persons with Disabilities in the region at this time.
 

Supporting this migrant population is challenging, and many international organisations have been forced to evacuate their staff. These are people at risk of having their basic rights denied. The priority for CBM and its partner organisations situated in the crisis region is to ensure that Persons with Disabilities are not forgotten in their midst.
 
CBM is able to help thanks to partner organisations like HEAL Africa situated in Goma, who have been treating the wounded and caring for the needs of the displaced population. There is still a large effort needed to support the local population with blankets, soap and health care.

In a crisis situation, Persons with Disabilities may be more vulnerable to being left behind or having their needs overlooked, and may be unable to fend for themselves, for example by contacting loved ones, or going in search of food. They may be unable to seek medical attention for an existing or new impairment and their condition may worsen as a result. They also face a proportionally greater risk of malnutrition, illness or even sexual abuse than the general population.

For one such family, whose seven-year-old daughter and son of nine years were shot during an attack by rebels, the need is immediate. 

Our partner organisation COPH (Conseil de concertation des Oeuvres en faveur des Personnes ayant un Handicap) has already identified more than 4000 persons with disabilities in the Goma area. Many are injured due to the unrest and in need of medical treatment.
 
Two further partners are working to distribute food and medicines to displaced families in the northeast of the country. Both partners work with local municipalities to provide medical and social care through rehabilitation programs for Persons with Disabilities and their families, despite the ongoing risk.

One local partner reports: “Our training centre for Persons with Disabilities at Bogoro village has restarted its activities on a small scale, where two classrooms are functioning with a minimum of trainees. We are still observing the development of the crisis before bringing the workshop equipment back.”
 
CBM’s emergency coordinator, Valérie Scherrer, said: “It is now clear that the needs are going to be enormous in the next few days or weeks in the DRC as the situation is very volatile and people may not be able to go back to their homes.”
 
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