By Kulihoshi M | Coordinator
Gaining the field in the efforts towards the effective protection of refugees in North Kivu, DRCongo
Background information
Due to our strong advocacy through your support to this project, we observed a conflict of statistics of refugees between UNHCR and the Government, this was a great move for us and it generated a lot debate in DRC. UNHCR estimates refugees in DRC at 526,000 but we strongly rejected this number, we estimate refugees at 4million.
In North Kivu Province we estimate that North Kivu Province could host more than 1,500,000 refugees mainly from Rwanda and Burundi, among them only less than 27,000 are registered by the Government and UNHCR, among them only 4,000 have accurate refugee documents in Goma, and less than 200 have access to some form of humanitarian relief aid from UNHCR and her implementing partners, and this aid is generally limited to school fees to children at primary schools, and basic medical treatment.
Issues we are addressing since we started this project
We continued observing the reduction of threats, and abuses against refugees, the campaign to decriminalize refugees is moving well and gaining the space in North Kivu especially,
To create influence to local authorities in North Kivu to be fully conscience that we have a big number of refugees who are not yet registered and who should be not criminalized.
We attended three security meetings bringing together various security services where we presented issues of refugees. Two meetings were organized by the Mayor of Goma and one with 34 Military Region of Goma, as a this has contributed to better relationship on issues about refugees,
To discourage arbitrary arrest and illegal detention of refugee: We collected information about refugees and IDPs who were arbitrary arrested and together we engaged various authorities, we are glad that this practice was then discouraged, Media briefings:
We held two Press Conference, participated in 7 Radio Talk-show, one TV Interviews and debate, and 10 articles which we made were published by online media in Goma and in DRC,
Information with actors of the Civil Society: We organized 4 meetings with actors of the Civil Society in Goma and up to now, those who attended are fully informed about the situation of refugees.
Networking: Because of information we circulate on refugee issues we were invited in some meetings of UNHCR Partners in Goma,
What we failed to do:
Legal representation to refugees in conflict with the law who are in prisons accused of various crimes. We failed this because of we did not have the money to cover the cost of lawyers,
Engaging Political Leaders: We also failed to engaged the Members of Parliament on refugee issues,
Reform of the National Commission for Refugees: We also failed to advocate for this because of financial problems.
Way forward
Strong advocacy in order to attract actors on the need to solve the problems of refugees,
Show people the urgent to make priority the need to ensure that each refugee in DRC is recognized, identified and granted a refugee documents in order to fulfill his/her ambition,
Train refugees, host communities, leaders at all levels about refugee rights and laws governing refugees,
To highlight the situation of refugees in DRC at the international levels where refugee issues are discussed,
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