Fleeing the conflicts in the Equateur Province of DRC, the number of Congolese escaping across the Oubangui River grows by the day. After massive flows from October to November 2009, the arrivals continued at a slower pace; 107,000 DRC nationals have until now settled on 250 kilometres of riverbanks. The DRC governmental forces have resumed their control over the Equateur Region following the fighting between the area’s ethnic groups. Still, these - yet to be recognized - refugees cannot go home safely.

A mission in Northern Congo to assess the needs of the 107,000 refugees originary from the DRC.

Adding to the dreadful living conditions, this particularly isolated forested region is only accessible by canoe. In the majority of villages, the refugees outnumber the hosts, who, despite their generosity, lack sufficient resources for all. Because of the absence of livelihoods and of the scarce relief assistance, a serious risk of malnutrition subsists. Most refugees were forced to build improvised shelters made of wooden pieces or mosquito nets, serving as rooftops. Other refugees grouped in a recently inaugurated school or in a disaffected matches factory, with practically no roof. Because wells are too rare to provide the entire population with enough drinking water and as latrines are missing, the people use the river, with substantial sanitary risks.

In response to this emergency situation, humanitarian assistance is slowly becoming operational. Early January, ACTED led a needs assessment in the north of this area, outside the town of Bétou. ACTED will hence distribute hygiene and cooking kits to 9,000 refugees in the North of Bétou and is looking forward to rehabilitating sanitary infrastructure.