Goma, August 27, 2010 – The Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in the DRC returned to Kinshasa, after a stay of 24 hours in North Kivu. From Uganda and Rwanda, Roger Meece came to ask about the security situation following the recent killing of three UN peacekeepers and the mass rape of women in this insecure province.

During his stay, Roger Meece together with MONUSCO / North Kivu Head of Office and few senior civilian and military staff of the Mission visited Kibua and Kirumba, respectively located in Walikale and Lubero territories to see and understand what really happened in those two localities .

On August 18 in Kirumba, about 190 km northwest of Goma, three Indian peacekeepers were killed by gunmen who stormed their base. As to Kibua, particularly in the area of Ihana, in about 10 villages, over 150 women suffered gang rapes between July 30 and August 2.

At Kibua, capital of this area, the Special Representative Meece, met with MONUSCO base commander and notables. Local officials informed him that people had began to return gradually to their villages after the unfortunate events.

Roger Meece has committed to make every effort to continue ensuring effective security of the population: "The efforts of MONUSCO will continue to fulfill our first priority, the protection of civilians always in partnership with the Congolese authorities. At Kibua, it is obvious that something horrible happened; mass rapes in several villages, and looting. It shows the importance of doing everything to stop the activities of armed groups" said Meece .

At Kirumba, the SRSG also said he was shocked by the killing of three peacekeepers and emphasize that "our interest, in partnership with the authorities, is to find those responsible and bring them to justice to respond for their actions". However, he expressed concern about the situation of the population who is facing daily insecurity in this region.

"This shows the importance of strengthening collaboration with the Congolese authorities to end the threat the populations are under and enable them to live the life they deserve" said Roger Meece . Back in Goma in the afternoon, he met at MONUSCO headquarters the political and military authorities of the province.

For his part, the Deputy Special Representative in charge of humanitarian issues, Fidele Sarassoro , was also in the region . At Oicha, country town of Beni territory, where he went to acknowledge the situation of displaced population, Sarassoro expressed dismay about the difficult conditions under which these populations are living.

The populations of several villages in the territory of Beni have indeed reached Oicha not only to flee from insecurity and also the FARDC operations against rebels of the Ugandan ADF / NALU in the region. Before returning to Kinshasa, the humanitarian coordinator said he would address a plea to donors for a quick and effective response to these problems.