DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (DRC)

Country Background

DRC is located in central Sub-Saharan Africa. It borders with Central African Republic, and South Sudan to the north; Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania to the east, Zambia and Angola to the south, the Republic of the Congo to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest.

DRC is a large country rich with minerals. The mineral wealth has fueled conflicts with the different militia groups. Many locals have been caught in the crossfire and become victims of the conflict, consequently fleeing their homes for safety.

The country is also hosting refugees from Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Angola, etc.

In 2012, AIRD launched its operations in DRC to assist IDPs and refugees. It is in this regard that the Program has been providing voluntary repatriation services to the persons of concern. The Program has also been maintaining and servicing vehicles, motorcycles and generators for UNHCR AND IPs operations plus warehousing and transport management.  AIRD also manages and distributes fuel for UNHCR and IPs. The Program also does construction and rehabilitation of infrastructure. The Program has operations in South and North Ubangi, North and South Kivu provinces, Katanga, Orientale Province.

Persons of Concern

AIRD activities are supporting IDPs living in Katanga and Central African Republic refugees living in areas of Ango and Bondo in Orientale Province. Rwandan and Burundian refugees settled in North, and South Kivu. The Program has also been helping Central African Republic refugees in North and South Ubangi living in Mole, Boyabu, Inke, and Bili camps.

Operational Context

DRC is the second largest country in Africa with a size of 905,400 square miles. The program had to increase its staff to 400 to effectively implement the targeted activities in the camps that are spread out around the country.The staff are spread out in the different parts of the country where the Program has Sub-offices. They are in Kalemie, Gbadolite,  Goma, Bukavu and Bunia. The Program field offices are in: Libenge, Zongo, Bili, Uvira, Mboko, Dungu, Aru, Ango, Bondo, Doruma and Aba.

The Program is currently facilitating the voluntary repatriation of Rwandan refugees living in the provinces of North Kivu, particularly in Masisi and Rutshuru, and South Kivu in Bukavu. Under an agreement signed between UNCHR and WFP in 2013, AIRD was managing food in Gbadolite camp until 2016.

2016 Activities

Construction and Infrastructure

In 2016, AIRD constructed 24.5 km of roads benefiting 24,500 persons of concern, two warehouses benefiting 10,051 persons of concern, 5562 emergency shelters benefiting 27,810 persons of concern, 1489 transitional shelters benefiting 7445 persons of concern, 13 hangars benefiting 650 persons of concern, 5 schools and 12 classrooms benefiting 14,400 persons of concern, 3029 emergency pit latrines benefiting 60,580 persons of concern, and 3 health posts benefiting 30,000 persons of concern.
 
Fleet Management

In 2016, AIRD through its fleet management capacity transported items with a total weight of 8165 tons. The fleet included ten buses, 138 generators, 242 light vehicles, 253 motorcycles, 37 trucks, six whale boats, and seven speed boats.
 
Fuel Management

In 2016, the Program received 1,573,994.7 litres of diesel and 129,275.8 litres of petrol. Through the 6 fuel stations the Program manages in DRC, a total of 1 526 720.41 litres of diesel and 144,687.8 of petrol was distributed to UNCHR and IPs.  The program staff ensured the fuel pumps were operational throughout the year for the assets to operate smoothly.
 
Workshop Management

In 2016, AIRD managed a total of 14 workshops in Ango, Bukavu, Bunia, Bili, Bondo, Dungu, Doruma, Goma, Gbadolite, Kalemie, Kinshasa, Libenge, Uvira, Zongo, and issued 4789 job cards.
 
Warehouse Management

In comparison to the total warehouse capacity of 14,620 m3 in 2015, AIRD increased its warehouse management capacity in 2016, by managing a total of 11 warehouses in Goma, Kinshasa, Kalemie, Libenge, Zongo, Gbadolite, Uvira, Ango, Aru, Doruma, and Bondo with a total warehouse capacity of 16,998.8 m3.
 
Repatriation

In 2016, AIRD organized many convoys benefiting 6469 Rwandan refugees.
 
WASH

In accordance to AIRD’s Strategic Plan 2014-19 to diversify AIRD’s services in three new areas; environment, WASH, and livelihood, in 2016, AIRD, as a part of emergency program, partnered with UNDP to implement WASH project in North and South Ubangi. In Libenge, Zongo, and Gbadolite refugee camps, AIRD constructed 1200 latrines and 1200 showers, and distributed health kits.
In 2016, AIRD in addition to the WASH project signed a contract with UNDP to implement shelter project in North and South Ubangi.
 
Environment

In 2015, AIRD received funding from UNHCR to implement environment project in South Kivu, which included reforestation in Lusenda camp Fizi Territory in 2016.  The Program planted 23,203 fast growing and robust tree species trees in Lusenda.

Training

In 2016, AIRD held two training sessions for defensive driving. They also conducted activities in the sphere of child protection, SGBV, and PBS in Sud-Kivu.