Bukavu, 1st March 2012 – As part of the enhanced protection of civilian population in the Sud-Kivu province, a joint team of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) carried out a protection mission at Numbi, the territory of Kalehe between 24 and 27 February 2012.

Made up of senior members of the civil & political affairs, human rights as well as of the Information Analysis section and the United Nations agency for human settlements (UN-habitat), the joint team carried out the protection mission at Numbi, Kalehe hauts plateaux, at about 80 km from South-East of Bukavu, the provincial capital, to assess the social and security situations there. The mission was expected to shed light on the information received from the various local non-governmental organisations and civil society members at Numbi, according to whom gross human rights violations were reportedly committed by men in uniforms.

During their visit, the team met with the administrative, military and civil society members as well as the local population. Exactions were committed by members of different groups, amongst others, the Mai Mai Nyatura, Mai Mai Kichiriko and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) in the region. Local population argued that the presence of men with weapons as well as land and community-related conflicts were the main reason why the population living in the surrounding territory fled to Numbi.

Situated in the hauts plateaux, Numbi is difficult to access, mainly due to the fact that it is landlocked. There are only two international NGOs active in this territory, unable to meet humanitarian needs of the local population.

Known as a mineral-rich territory, Numbi is yet a poor territory in every respect and its population live in abject poverty; its wealth benefits a very few people. To contribute to the fight against illegal exploitation of mining resources in this territory, within the framework of the Stabilization and Reconstruction Plan for Eastern DRC in areas affected by war (STAREC) launched in June 2009, one mineral business centre was built at Numbi and another one at Mugogo in the Sud-Kivu province. As of then, all the extracted minerals should go through the business centres for ease of traceability.