Democratic Republic of Congo: Reaching rural communities amid continuing conflict

The Concern team distribute aid in Mokoto, DRC. Credit: Concern DRC

Across eastern DRC, thousands of people are tired, hungry, sick and scared, living in makeshift shelters tightly packed into informal sites often around churches, schools, monasteries, or other peoples’ homes that they hope might offer a measure of safety. Many of these people have fled conflict several times over the past months, caught up in tides of displacement caused by escalating attacks on their communities.

As the crisis continues, people like Christian Olodo, Concern’s Area Coordinator for North Kivu, work tirelessly to reach the most vulnerable with emergency assistance.

When we speak to him, Christian has just returned from Mokoto, an isolated enclave among rolling hills, where thousands of people fled following violence further north. Mokoto is located in Mweso health zone, eighteen kilometres from Kitshanga. As part of Concern’s SAFER project, Christian and his team of 17 provided aid to those in Mokoto who have been displaced by conflict.

Christian Olodo, Concern’s Area Coordinator for North Kivu, DRC, works tirelessly to reach the most vulnerable with emergency assistance. Credit: Concern DRC

Mokoto has been inaccessible for a long time due to the security situation and the clashes occurring along the main access routes” Christian said. “Concern has been one of the first – among very few organisations- to bring support to those who have been displaced.

Christian Olodo - Concern’s Area Coordinator for North Kivu, DRC

After an emergency alert, Concern positioned to respond under its SAFER rapid response programme, a consortium involving a group of humanitarian agencies and with funding provided by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Christian’s team made the journey to Mokoto to carry out a rapid assessment of the critical needs. A journey such as this is no easy feat given the presence of armed groups in the area and constant risk of vehicles becoming stuck in thick mud due to the rainy season, meaning all the equipment and supplies have to be laboriously unloaded and reloaded.

The Concern team unloading essential supplies. Credit: Concern DRC

The team was incredible. Preparation work was required in advance to avoid losses and above all, reach those in need. We did not have any losses or shortages of supplies.

Christian Olodo - Concern’s Area Coordinator for North Kivu, DRC

On arrival, the team learned that people were desperate for food, but also in need of utensils and cooking equipment. They had left so quickly, they had carried next to nothing with them.

Following extensive checks to make sure that the provisions would go to the right people at the right time, Concern organised the purchase and distribution of emergency food rations (beans, flour, salt and oil), as well cooking kits for over 20,000 people. The team also supplied menstruation kits to women, to ensure proper hygiene.

Over the course of sixteen days of distribution the team experienced a number of challenges, with conflict in the area forcing a period of suspension, but Concern did not leave until all those identified as in need had received the agreed support.

Emergency provisions distribution, DRC. Credit: Concern DRC

Throughout the duration of the intervention we organised specific awareness sessions, for example on how to cook in difficult situations as around the site area, there is no available wood to make a fire. Also, we organised a session on how to use the menstruation kits appropriately.

Christian Olodo - Concern’s Area Coordinator for North Kivu, DRC

Saving lives and providing a sense of dignity to those whose voices have been drowned out by the sound of conflict is what drives people like Christian. Rarely seen without his two phones, checking in on his teams, locating suppliers, or securing the latest information on the security situation, he is always on the move.

At the time of writing, the main road leading back to Goma is once more blocked due to armed clashes. As so often, Christian and his team agreed to take calculated risks to ensure the emergency intervention could happen in the safest way possible and be completed in as short a time as possible before Christmas. At the same time, Concern’s remaining emergency response teams have been galvanised to reach a further 43,050 people further to the north with emergency cash distributions in record timing before planned elections take place. It might feel like a drop in the ocean. But, like Christian, we will keep going.

The message I want to share is that of the people we’re helping. We have seen children who have gone many days with nothing to eat. I want to thank the donors for their support.

Christian Olodo - Concern’s Area Coordinator for North Kivu, DRC