In 1996, ODI contributed to a major review of the
international response to the Rwanda genocide. This Briefing
Note draws on lessons from the Joint Evaluation, HPG research
and independent work on the region to examine the current
situation in Ituri from a humanitarian perspective. It is aimed at
a wide audience, including those unfamiliar with the situation
in Ituri or humanitarian policy debates. Of course, whilst
international attention is focused on Ituri, humanitarian needs
in the rest of DRC should not be forgotten. This briefing focuses
on Ituri, but the situation in North and South Kivu is equally
alarming.
The briefing highlights three main issues:
• The needs of civilians in Ituri and the rest of DRC are above
all for protection from violence, conflict and displacement.
The key issue is therefore one of humanitarian protection.
• The scope and mandates of the current international interim
force and MONUC appear insufficient to provide meaningful
humanitarian protection. A key related question is the extent
to which the parties to the conflict can be pressured to respect
international humanitarian and human rights law.
• The lessons from a decade of conflict in the region are clear.
Effective political action to resolve the conflict is vital, but
the need for adequate humanitarian assistance and protection
for civilians must be separately considered and given equal
attention and importance