Date/Location: 10 July 2013, Conference Room 4 (NLB)

Speakers: Kang Kyung-wha (Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs) and Basile Ikouebe (Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Attended by: Norah Crossnohere, Janice H.W. Wong, Iman Yashruti

Written By: Iman Yashruti

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The main goal of this meeting was to make sure that the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remained in the global spotlight. Humanitarian intervention still remains a crucial part in saving lives and alleviating suffering of the people within the DRC. The number of internally displaced persons (IDP’s) has increased by over 800,000 people (from 1.8 to 2.6 million people).

There has also been an increase in the number of victims who go to hospitals for treatment (which averages 300k per year for one hospital). There has been an effort in water purification as 17,000 cases of cholera have been recorded. In 2012, 10 million people were able to access health services and 3 million people were able to receive food services through humanitarian aid. Many people still remain in need of humanitarian assistance but are out of reach because of the limited accessibility to their homes.

After the elections in 2006 and 2011, the Congolese population had a good reason to hope for lasting peace. But the context of war prevails; there is an escalation of violence in new forms of criminal behavior in which women and children are mainly the victims. There is frequent killing, systematic rape, sexual  torture, and recruitment of child forces. The government of the DRC firmly respects the commitments under the agreements concerning noninterference, the ban of the support of rebel groups, and the respecting of the sovereignty of other member states.

Millions of Congolese people want what everyone has: peace, security, and stability. Efforts must continue to find lasting peace.

Edited By; Wayne Dean Doyle