A total of 406,716 people have already been expelled from northern Angola to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The expulsions are brutal and also affect Congolese people who have lived in Angola for generations. Caritas and local authorities recorded testimonies of extortion and (sexual) violence. There are also children who lost their parents in the panic of the moment.
SITUATION IN KASAI
The large majority of all expelled Congolese end up in Kamonia, Kasai. They had to leave everything behind and the hardship there is great. People sleep under the stars or in buildings such as churches, have little food or potable water, no household items and limited access to sanitation. A lack of transport means that long distances have to be covered on foot, on an empty stomach and at the risk of violence.
Living conditions in Kasai are already difficult due to the consequences of the armed conflict between the Congolese army and the Kamwina Nsapu militias. Two years after this crisis – which was explored in depth in our #Kasainow campaign – the current influx puts extra pressure on the fragile peace in this region. One deported person has already lost their life during the tensions with the host community in Kamonia.
HUMANITARIAN ALERT SYSTEM
Important developments and humanitarian needs are mapped out through the humanitarian alert system. This mechanism is based on the Church’s network in the DRC and enables residents of remote dioceses to pass on information to Caritas and its humanitarian partners in the country. It is operational in Kasai and was also set up in Matadi and Popokabaka.
The information gathered is disseminated by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and is essential to ensure that aid is tailored to needs.
