– On Tuesday 18 August, MONJUSCO, through its civil Affairs section, attended a monthly meeting of the Commission on the Populations’ Movements CMP in Uvira.

In attendance were representatives of the local and international NGOs including IEDA-Relief, AHADI, AJDC, CEDIER, FADC, CIRESKI, ADED, SOAPN, as well as OCHA and MONUSCO.

They reviewed the overall security situation in the territory of Uvira and its impact on the population for the period from June to July 2015. Participants also updated the statistics on the populations’ movements in the zone under their responsibility. They also reviewed the key achievements, the planned activities for the Mutarule returnees to the Ruzizi Plain, where the displaced started returning on Saturday 15 August 2015.

Participants acknowledged the necessity to provide humanitarian assistance to the returnees. To this end, a preparatory mission will visit Mutarule to assess the needs at a date yet unknown.

It should be recalled that between August 2013 and August 2014, roughly 5700 people fled inter-ethnic atrocities in Mutarule which left 45 people dead. A year and a half later, the displaced opted for returning home where security has been markedly reinforced.

MONUSCO and its partners made huge efforts to reassure the displaced, to sensitize the different communities to the importance of peaceful co-habitation and mutual respect. The efforts helped more than 457 households, say 2235 people, to return to Mutarule on 19 August 2015.

Jean-Tobie Okala/MONUSCO