PU-AMI DRC –Katanga & North Kivu provinces – Quarterly Report N°4 – Fiscal year 2014

The Maï-Maï Kata Katanga troops led by Gedeon have stopped harassing villages in the area due to the massive presence of FARDC. However, the security situation remains fragile, and the FARDC troops sometimes take advantage of their distant management to harass the local population. In February 2014, an exploratory mission was conducted by PU-AMI in the Death Triangle, and almost all villages were found to be burnt and empty. The entire population was displaced to the vicinities of Mpiana, Shamwana, and on the axis Mpiana-Musovoy. Since May, part of the displaced population has returned to their villages of origin, where they are struggling to diversify their food diet and restart breeding to avoid overfishing. Some villagers have started to rebuild roofs, houses, and schools and to clear the bush out of banana and sugar cane plantations. The security and political context in North Kivu Province is relatively quiet, with the FARDC taking position in several villages and facilitating fearless movements of goods and people. However, some areas remain where NGOs are under attack, storekeepers and population are abducted and sometimes killed. The population recovers peacefully in the daily activities, but NDC's elements ransom the population by extorting them for a monthly tax and contribution to their movement. The project aims to provide emergency relief to vulnerable populations, including IDPs, returnees, and host families, enabling them to satisfy their urgent essential needs and helping them restore their livelihoods. The geographic areas of intervention are Katanga Province and North Kivu Province, with a focus on the Health Zones of Mweso, Katwe, and Pinga. The project has reached 31,889 people (5,540 households) in North Kivu Province, with 30,600 IDP beneficiaries. The Agriculture and Food Security sector has contributed to the restoration of food security to vulnerable displaced, returnee, and host households through the support to agricultural production. The sector has reached 66,000 persons (11,000 households) in North Kivu Province, with 27,600 IDP beneficiaries. The sector has also implemented activities to improve agricultural production and food security, including the distribution of seeds and agricultural inputs. The Economic Recovery and Market Systems sector has enhanced livelihoods of the most vulnerable displaced, returnee, and host households through Cash For Work (CFW) activities. The sector has reached 10,200 persons (1,700 households) in North Kivu Province, with 3,000 IDP beneficiaries. The sector has also implemented activities to support vulnerable displaced and returnee households to cover their daily essential needs through cash transfer activities. The project has made significant progress in the Agriculture and Food Security sector, with the recruitment and training of additional local staff, the identification of crisis-affected areas, and the program presentation to local authorities. The project has also identified and trained model farmers, who will play a crucial role in promoting agricultural production and food security in the target area.