The IRC in the Republic of Congo
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Successive civil wars in 1997 and 1998 tore apart the Republic of Congo, resulting in massive population displacement and infrastructure damage. In 2000, the Republic of Congo (RoC) was confronted by a large refugee influx from neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The IRC responded to both crises, assisting war-affected communities and the refugee population. Currently the IRC provides health, water and sanitation, education, social services, and sexual and gender-based violence prevention programs for refugees from DRC and Central African Republic, and has a program to reunify street children with their families. Background
Beginning as an internal struggle for political power, the 1997 and 1998 Congolese civil wars quickly played out along ethnic and geographic lines, pitting north against south in the form of militias called the "Ninjas" and the "Cobras." Although fighting was concentrated in the capital Brazzaville, it spread through the country's southern region, causing urban populations to flee to forests or to Democratic Republic of Congo. The result of the two civil wars was destruction of the health and socio-economic systems. Hope for quick recuperation has faded with recent bouts of insecurity in Brazzaville and continuing low-level conflict in the Pool Region, where the government denies humanitarian access. The 2000 refugee influx demonstrates potential for broader regional instability and continued fragility of the African Great Lakes region.
In 2002, heavy fighting between government and rebel "Ninja" forces in the southern Pool region led to displacement of hundreds of thousands and destroyed the little infrastructure that existed. In mid-2003, the situation improved enough that displaced families started to return, and humanitarian agencies were granted access, though the situation remains tense.
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With peace returning to their country, refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo head home from Betou, in neighboring Republic of Congo, where the IRC is assisting with their repatriation. Photo: Jiro Ose/Redux Pictures for the International Rescue Committee | |
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