SubscribeIn the D.R. Congo with UNICEF
Julien Harneis’ photos from the Democratic Republic of the Congo tell us a story of hardship and hope. For the last several years, Julien has been working with UNICEF in various parts of the world. Now he is in Eastern DRC, near the Rwandan border, as Chief of Field Operations working to alieve the problems of displaced populations, including child soldiers, sexual violence, poor education, unclean drinking water, and health and sanitation issues. Thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes while the DRC army clashes with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). Because of the fighting, the large population of displaced people, the many destroyed villages, and the gloabl food crisis, the local populations are without schools, homes, food, and even sanitary living conditions. UNICEF and other organizations are working tirelessly to bring relief to the area.
Fighting in North Kivu is threatening the lives of children. Tens of thousands of children have been displaced in the last weeks, in the confusion of flight children have been separated from their parents. Already malnourished children are now even more vulnerable. In the crowded makeshift camps measles and cholera are growing dangers. Thousands of children are unable to start the school year. Armed groups are using at least a 1000 children and more are being recruited.
UNICEF, through a network of partners, is assisting 60,000 people around Muganga and Minova in the Kivus. UNICEF is identifying separated children and reunifying them with their families. Rape survivors are being given medical and psychosocial support. Clean water distribution and latrines have been set up. Displaced families have received temporary shelter materials, bedding and cooking sets. All children under the age of 14 are being vaccinated against measles and pregnant women against neo natal tetanus. 2000 children have been screened for malnutrition. Emergency education programmes have started.UNICEF’s partners are AVSI, Caritas, the International Rescue Committee, Heal Africa, the Norwegian Refugee Council, Save the Children UK, Solidarités, World Vision International and the provincial health service of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
UNICEF has assisted 350,000 displaced persons since the start of fighting in Sake last November. UNICEF’s actions are part of a coordinated response with other UN organizations; Office Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs, United Nations High Commission for Refugees, World Food Programme, World Health Organisation & The Mission of the United Nations in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Despite all this the majority of displaced persons remain inaccessible due to the fighting. UNICEF calls upon all parties to the conflict to; protect the rights of children, end the recruitment of children and ensure humanitarian access to all displaced persons.
“As we drove we saw trucks carrying troops and munitions heading towards the hills and coming the other way families fleeing with their few possessions.” -Julien Harneis
“Because of war swathes of Fizi territory, South Kivu, were abandoned between 1998 and 2006. During that time houses and schools were burnt, the adobe bricks melting back into the earth from which they came.
With AVSI and the community UNICEF is rehabilitating or rebuilding 7 schools in the south east of the territory. We monitored 2 school construction sites in Kilembwe. On the site the builders were digging out the rich red earth, wetting it, moulding it and baking it, to make the bricks of the new school. I watched in fascination as the raw materials of a school were coaxed out of the earth.” -Julien Harneis
“As we were leaving Minembwe the entire school from a neighbouring village some 15km arrived to pick up cement. WarChild Canada is supporting a community school rehabilitation and the children were part of the community participation.” -Julien HarneisFor more information, see ReliefWeb.org and Julien Harneis’ photos on Flickr.
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