ITURI CALM IN WAKE OF MONUC ACTION

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000404 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KPKO MOPS PHUM PREL CG SUBJECT: ITURI CALM IN WAKE OF MONUC ACTION REF: A. KINSHASA 355 ¶B. KINSHASA 370 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: The site of a recent MONUC military operation in Ituri is now calm and people are returning to their homes, according to NGO sources who visited the area March 5-7. Several international NGOs and UNICEF also resumed providing humanitarian assistance to internally-displaced people at Tche and Kahwa. END SUMMARY. Ituri Calm Following MONUC Operation -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The security situation in Ituri has improved since MONUC's successful operation on March 1 against Front for National Integration (FNI) militiamen in Loga (reftels), according to U.N. and NGO sources. A team from the NGO German Agro Action (AAA) visited Loga on March 5 and 7, found the area calm, and noted that the local, ethnic Lendu population had started to return. The security situation in Bunia remained calm as well. MONUC Action Pre-Empted Militia Attack -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Several Ituri-based sources have since reported that FNI militiamen had previously used Loga as a base to launch attacks against Hema villages near Djugu, and were already preparing to attack an internally-displaced persons camp at Tche when the MONUC operation took place. An NGO source also reported that Hemas from Katoto (5 kms from Loga) have invited the Lendu population of Loga to come to their village on March 12 for market day. In the source's opinion, the invitation indicates locals' desire to co-exist, despite militia leaders' efforts to foster ethnic tensions. Humanitarian Aid Begins Flowing Again -------------- ¶4. (U) The same source said the IDP camp at Tche had grown from 15,000 in January to 18,000-20,000 in March, while the IDP camp at Kahwa remains at 12,000-15,000. NGOs have resumed providing assistance to both camps, after temporarily suspending their efforts following the killing of nine Bangladeshi peacekeepers and MONUC's military engagement at Loga. AAA, OXFAM, MSF and UNICEF continue to provide food, water and sanitation, and medical assistance to both camps. ¶5. (U) Bujumbura minimize considered. MEECE