Urgent Relief Aid to war survivors in east DRCongo

Any act of generosity towards Internally Displaced Person in the Democratic Republic of Congo will help, each dollar given will reduced the number of those in difficult situation, and our main fear is if we do not do anything.

This report has come at a critical moment when since Monday January 20^th, 2025 the rebels of M23 backed by Rwanda captured many other places pushing more than 500,000 people to leave their homes in order to seek asylum in places they think are safe. The fighting in Sake since Thursday January 23^rd, 2025 displaced hundreds of IDPs who were living in camps. Many are on the streets of Goma lacking everything and the solidarity which they should benefited from is so much lacking, most of their surviving depends on the generosity of the host communities are also themselves living in a disaster. In order to make things had, Minova which supplied people in Goma with food was captured by the rebels and food cannot come anymore.

As per now Goma has more than 3million people among them 70% are Internally Displaced Persons who are living in deplorable condition. This appeal is entered to offer relief aid to those in deed, the question here in not about having a lot to share or not, the question is about the decision to share the little we have, this is what we are doing in Goma, and this is what you can also do. The question is not who should we give but rather who we came across and in need, the question here is not helping everybody but to help those we can, the question here is not lasting solution but saving the lives of people at risk now, the question is not about sustainable interventions but helping people to survive for the next day and on the way others will come and do what they can.

At the moment more than 2million in Goma need relief aid from us and we should come in quickly from now.

The lasting solutions to the situation of IDPs requires three interventions: Peace Activities, Economic Empowerment and Relief Aid

Let us remind you that this is not the first time Goma if facing such humanitarian crisis due to wars in North Kivu, so beyond relief aid we need peace: You can view our report here " https://www.cojeskinordkivu.org/report-of-the-humanitarian-aid-to-aidps-in-bulengo-around-goma-north-kivu/

Peace in North Kivu

We should solve the problem of refugees mainly Congolese refugees living in Rwanda and at the same time Rwandan refugees living in DRC. On this point we have already submitted a New Refugee Law to the Parliament and we hope that it may be tabled this year. Then Empowering the state to be able to provide security in North Kivu, many parts lack the presence of the state and therefore are used by armed groups, more advocacy work is done tother with other actors of the Civil Society and local leaders. We have also lauched the Citizens Coalition on Electoral Democracy in order to play a role in elections. More can be found in our website, and lastly we are working on initiatives bringing together civil societies in the great lakes region together for peace.

Economic Empowerment

We have been at the front line to mobilize and advicate about the necessity to include income generatig activities and skill development in the package of humanitarian repsonse, we are so glad that various initiatives are being implemented now by humanitarian orgabizations focusing on economic activities among IDPs around Goma. We have engaged more with OCHA and we managed to agree on some points about the current situation and the needed interventions. We also developed a very nice and unique Economic Model which we are implementing for refugees, and once we get the funds we shall extend it to IDPs also here in Goma, or even in their villages when they are back.

Advocacy meeting during with OCHA in Goma to include Economic Activities during a round-table discussions: https://www.cojeskinordkivu.org/round-table-discussions-organized-by-ocha-with-the-civil-society-on-the-current-humanitarian-activities-in-north-kivu/

Relief Aid

Generally the last relief aid we gave out was in August as we hosted a Choir from Bukavu in South Kivu, among our activities to mobilize others to come and help IDPs. We continue with the mobilization of different groups in DRC. For more information about our activities in August, please open this link: https://www.cojeskinordkivu.org/advocacy-activities-towards-a-holistic-humanitarian-response-in-goma-drcongo-and-the-involvement-of-all/