Assessment of the Humanitarian Crisis in Sake and Bulengo by AGIR RDC on February 6, 2024.
Context
Since the second half of January 2023, more than 120,000 people have been forced to flee clashes between M23 rebels, in coalition with the Rwandan Armed Forces (RDF), and the Congolese Loyalist Armed Forces (FARDC), as well as self-defense groups called Wazalendo. In the second half of January 2024, fighting intensified as rebels gained ground and took control of several territories in North Kivu province, leaving abandoned villages behind.
Some of the displaced made their way to South Kivu, while others fled to Sake, eventually finding refuge in camps near the city of Goma.
1. The displaced people
People of all ages are currently scattered in several camps, such as Kyabiringa, Kizimba, Mashitsa, Zaïna, Edac and Nzulo, as well as in a dozen schools, in addition to the Nzulo camp. Their exact number has not yet been determined, as they are still on the move and continue to arrive in the city of Sake.
The displaced are from different localities, including Karuba, Kiluku, Shasha, Kirotshe, Ngumba, Bweremana and Kituffa. Some began fleeing as early as December 2022 and took refuge in Shasha displacement camp. With the recent clashes, they have once again been forced to flee and are currently in Sake in a situation of uncertainty.
2. On the Security Front
Security in Sake is extremely precarious, with fighting taking place in the vicinity of displacement sites. Despite short periods of calm, the local population, both residents and displaced people, live in constant fear.
The authorities are overwhelmed by this situation for which they had no established plan. During our time there, bomb explosions were so frequent that they regularly interrupted our interviews with the displaced.
3. Basic Needs of the Displaced Population
Food
During our visits to the sites and camps in Sake, the basic needs are visible. Many have not received any assistance from either the government or non-governmental organizations since fleeing. In the city of Sake, we found that schools, churches, mosques and hospitals were being used as shelters, but the displaced were not provided with food; We met a family who hadn't eaten anything for two days. The mother and her two daughters were so weak that they could no longer move. We felt an urgent need to find food for this family to prevent them from succumbing to starvation.
Access to Water
Most of the sites we visited have difficulty accessing water. In the Islamic school, where about 100 families took refuge, only rainwater was available, but in insufficient quantities. Therefore, this rainwater was used for all needs, whether for drinking or cooking.
Shelter
The new arrivals were temporarily housed in schools, where they were employed in classrooms by the dozens, or in churches and hospitals. Those who have managed to sneak into the camps have already started building makeshift houses with the materials at their disposal.
Health
With regard to sanitation facilities, with the exception of those in schools and churches that have accommodated hundreds of displaced people, no other plans or alternatives are currently in place to address health needs.
Access to health care is severely restricted in the city of Sake, not only due to the lack of health infrastructure, but also due to financial barriers. During our visit to the only medical site of the Sake mosque, we discovered a dozen sick people. Most of them tried to go to the hospital, but due to financial constraints, they were unable to receive care. As a result, they had to return to their shelters, leaving nature to take its course due to lack of financial means.
Story of Speciosa and Wimana
Initially, Spéciosa and Wimana, both farmers and originally from Karuba, were forced to flee their village due to the war. It has now been 14 months since their departure in December 2022. During the fighting, Speciosa lost her husband and eldest son. She arrived alone in Shasha, where she had a temporary shelter in the hope of one day returning to Karuba. Unfortunately, the war persists and continues unabated.
On the other hand, Wimana and her husband, also from Karuba, were neighbours of Spéciosa in the Shasha displacement camp. Wimana's husband sadly succumbed to cholera, leaving Wimana alone with her son and daughter-in-law. Faced with the harsh reality of life in the camp, Wimana and Spéciosa made the decision to share a shelter as both are now widows. However, war also broke out in Shasha, forcing them to flee to Sake, and perhaps even to Goma.
The two old ladies share their harrowing tales of escape, but the ordeal is even more difficult for Wimana who is unable to find her son. He returned to Shasha in the hope of finding food, because in Sake they still had not received assistance, and the famine weakened them. The stories of these elderly women are one of sadness, illustrating the heartbreaking consequences of war on lives already marked by loss and suffering.
Impact on the life of the host community
Just like the city of Goma, the city of Sake is also suffocated by a difficult situation. Access to the fields is severely hampered due to security concerns, with roads from farming villages cut off by the ravages of war. The fear is palpable, because in just two or three days, the conflict could already affect the city of Sake. Bomb explosions frequently echo through the city, adding to the tense atmosphere.
