Thousands of displaced people in Ituri have not been receiving adequate humanitarian aid recently. This situation has prompted the military governor of the province to encourage these displaced individuals to return to their places of origin, especially after the improvement in the situation in several parts of the province due to the efforts of the military forces tracking down negative armed groups.
“I advise these displaced people to return to their villages to undertake their respective activities,” the governor of the province of Ituri announced during his recent media outing.
There is a lack of regular humanitarian aid, nor intervention from humanitarian groups.
Lieutenant General Luboya Nkashama Johnny believes it is evident to see things differently at this time when even benefactors are at the end of their means.
“Now we have other people who are staying here on the site while they have villages where they have very good land where they can work. Let them return, let them return to their homes,” adds the provincial authority.
This population, which once worked for their own survival, has now become genuine beggars for food. Children wandering around the city for the same reason have become extremely dangerous for the safety of others.
Many of them are facing numerous health problems, which exposes others to malnutrition. This is particularly the concern expressed by the military governor of the province who believes that to this day, these people, especially those living in the city of Bunia, should return to their regions.
“The population does not need to stay on the site waiting for a bag of rice. We think this is not really good. They should do like the others. Those who are on the site should return home. Staying with the children in this condition is not acceptable. Many times, the children do not go to school and are malnourished because food supplies have not been arriving regularly,” he asserts.
While in the territory of Irumu there is a gradual return of war displaced people, in the territory of Djugu on the other hand, there is a low return of the population. Only a few civilians have returned to their village, particularly in the Nyali entities in the chiefdom of Banyali-kilo and the Lendu localities.
It should be noted that for some time now, the provincial government has been working, notably with the civil protection service, to facilitate the voluntary return of those who have expressed the wish to return to their villages.
Joël Heri Budjo from the city of Bunia.