UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Published purpose

The humanitarian and security situations in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remain a cause for concern. North Kivu, South Kivu and Orientale Province are plagued by serious human rights violations, food insecurity, high mortality and morbidity rates, horrific sexual violence and considerable and continuing displacement of population groups, which leads to medical, sanitary and nutritional problems. While a large number of displaced have returned home with a return to stability in some areas, the forcibly displaced people are still estimated at over two million and live alongside vulnerable hosting communities. The objective of this United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) operation is to meet the emergency needs of forcibly displaced populations in the DRC. Through its operation, UNHCR aims to: facilitate the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and provide assistance to sustain their reintegration in areas of origin; provide shelter to IDPs and host families; provide legal assistance to refugees; help to build the capacity of the Government to conduct refugee status determination; promote the prevention of, and rapid response to, sexual and gender-based violence; ensure that IDPs living with local communities benefit from protection and material assistance; improve inter-agency cooperation in areas of return; and advocate for durable solutions for Burundian and Rwandan refugees living in the DRC.