DRC Displacement - [IDPs/Returnees] - M23 Crisis North Kivu Province - Baseline Assessment [IOM DTM]

Displacement data collected in this twentieth crisis analysis shows an increase in the number of displaced people compared to the previous publication. The number of displaced people increased from 1,771,692 to 1,855,116 people as of July 5, 2024. This 5 percent increase is mainly linked to the clashes in Lubero territory. Although the majority of displaced people are in host communities, displacement sites continue to host a significant proportion (41%) of displaced people. Some sites provide temporary shelter and basic assistance, but most fail to adequately meet the needs of those affected. These sites are often overcrowded and struggle to provide essential services such as security, clean water, food and sanitation, compounding the difficulties of displaced people.

Displacement data collected in this nineteenth crisis analysis shows an increase in the number of displaced people compared to the previous publication (see report). The number of displaced people increased from 1,524,179 to 1,771,692 as of May 28, 2024 (detailed data here).

The displacement data collected in this eighteenth crisis analysis shows a decrease in the number of people displaced by the M23 crisis compared with the previous publication. The number of displaced people decreased from 1,561,676 on 29 March 2024 to 1,524,179 on 26 April 2024.

The displacement data collected in this seventeenth crisis analysis shows a decrease in the number of people displaced by the M23 crisis compared with the previous publication. The number of displaced people decreased from 1,689,260 on 13 March to 1,561,676 on 29 March 2024. This decrease of 8 per cent can be linked to the clashes that took place in the villages already emptied of their populetions in the Kamuronza groupement in Masisi territory and those in Nyiragongo territory. Although the majority of displaced people reside in host communities, displacement sites continue to host a significant proportion (41%) of displaced people.

In the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly in North Kivu, a prolonged and increasingly complex conflict persists, characterized by the presence of numerous armed actors such as the M23 group and the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and their respective allies. This situation has led to widespread instability and an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in North Kivu province. The ongoing hostilities have led to significant displacement of the local population, many of whom have been forced to flee their homes, further exacerbating an already dire situation. The conflict has created an urgent need for large-scale humanitarian aid, but the response remains inadequate to meet the immense needs due to a lack of resources and difficulties in delivering aid due to instability and dangerous conditions on the ground.

The conflict in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly in the province of North Kivu, has become increasingly complex over the years. Various armed groups, including the M23 group and the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and their allies, have been involved in the conflict, leading to widespread instability and unprecedented humanitarian crises. The fighting has led to a large-scale displacement and an increasing population in need of humanitarian assistance, access to which remains extremely difficult.

The ongoing conflict between the M23 rebel group and the Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC) and their allies has been a major source of violence and instability in the region. This conflict has not only caused the loss of human life and the displacement of millions of people but has also hampered efforts to establish peace and stability in the region. Since the beginning of the crisis, IOM, through its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) has continued conducting a series of rapid assessments, including emergency monitoring (EET/ERM), crisis analysis and registration, with the aim of responding to immediate information needs in order to understand displacement dynamics. This dataset presents the results of assessments carried out in the various displacement and return areas between 13 and 21 February 2024

Since 2022, the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in particular North Kivu, has been gripped by a devastating conflict that has intensified and become increasingly complex over time, with the potential to reach unprecedented levels in the province. This crisis is characterised by an abundance of armed actors in the conflict, a large-scale displacement and an increasing number of population in need of humanitarian aid. The ongoing conflict between the M23 rebel group and the Forces Armées de la République démocratique du Congo (FARDC) and their allies has been a major source of violence and instability in the region.

The start of the deployment of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional force has been announced for 28 December 2023. This initiative comes as a response to renewed fighting between the FARDC and its allies on the one hand, and the M23 group on the other.

Since the beginning of the crisis, IOM, through its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), has continued conducting a series of rapid assessments, including emergency monitoring (EET/ERM), crisis analysis and registration with the aim of responding to immediate information needs in order to understand displacement dynamics. This report presents the results of assessments carried out in the various displacement and return areas between 28 January and 12 February 2024.

The ongoing conflict between the M23 rebel group and the Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC) and their allies has been a major source of violence and instability in the region. The situation has deteriorated further since the withdrawal of several East African Community (EAC) force bases from the affected territories. This conflict has not only caused the loss of human life and the displacement of millions of people but has also hampered efforts to establish peace and stability in the region. Since the beginning of the crisis, IOM, through its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) has continued conducting a series of rapid assessments, including emergency monitoring (EET/ERM), crisis analysis and registration, with the aim of responding to immediate information needs in order to understand displacement dynamics. This dataset presents the results of assessments carried out in the various displacement and return areas between 19 December 2023 and 27 January 2024.

Since the start of the crisis, IOM, through the DTM continues to conduct a series of rapid assessments, including emergency monitoring (EET/ERM), crisis analysis and recording with priority to respond to immediate information needs to understand travel dynamics and needs. This report presents the results of assessments carried out in the different areas of displacement and return from November 20 to December 15, 2023.

Since the start of the crisis, IOM, through the DTM continues to conduct a series of rapid assessments, including emergency monitoring (EET/ERM), crisis analysis and recording with priority to respond to immediate information needs to understand travel dynamics and needs. This report presents the results of assessments carried out in the different areas of displacement and return from October 27 to November 19, 2023. Displacement data collected as part of this tenth crisis analysis shows a further increase in the number of displaced people compared to the previous publication. The number of internally displaced people increased from 908,920 to 1,076,261 people as of November 19, 2023, an increase of 167,341 individuals or 18 percent. This increase is due to multiple attacks, notably that which affected the territories of Rutshuru, Masisi and Nyiragongo

Since the start of the M23 crisis, IOM, through the DTM continues to conduct a series of rapid assessments, including emergency monitoring (EET/ERM), crisis analysis and recording with priority to responding to immediate information needs with a view to understanding travel dynamics and needs. This report presents the results of assessments carried out in the different areas of displacement and return between October 9 and 22, 2023.

Displacement data collected as part of this ninth crisis analysis shows a further increase in the number of displaced people compared to the previous publication. The number of internally displaced people increased from 824,381 to 908,920 as of October 22, 2023, an increase of 84,539 individuals or nine percent. This assessment made it possible to identify a total of 663,812 returnees (136,426 households) .

The overall situation from September to October 9, 2023, is characterized by a resurgence of armed violence in the territories of Masisi and Rutshuru. Since October 1, 2023, the coalition of local self-defense armed groups has increased attacks on the positions of the M23 armed group. On October 6, these clashes intensified simultaneously in the territories of Masisi and Rutshuru, during which the self-defense groups recaptured the villages of Busumba, Kibarizo, Kirumbu, Kitshanga, Kilolirwe, Burungu, and Kabalekasha in the health zone of Mweso in the Masisi territory. This extremely violent situation has resulted in numerous casualties, particularly among women and children exposed to crossfire from the fighters and forced to flee their homes. Host and displaced populations, including those who recently returned, have once again abandoned their homes to seek refuge in spontaneous sites near the base of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) in Kitshanga, near the military bases of the East African Community (EAC), and the surrounding areas, in the hope of finding some stability and access to humanitarian assistance. These successive clashes lead to prolonged displacements, intermittent and pendulum movements, which increase the vulnerabilities of the affected populations and limit access to immediate assistance and basic services due to this unpredictable conflict situation.

Since the beginning of the crisis, IOM, through the DTM, continues to conduct a series of rapid assessments, including emergency monitoring (EET/ERM), crisis analysis, and registration, with a priority to meet immediate information needs in order to understand displacement dynamics and needs. This report presents the results of the assessments conducted in different displacement and return areas between September 24 and October 9, 2023.

As of August 2023, the overall situation indicates a reduction in violence and conflicts related to the M23 crisis. However, it is important to note that sporadic incidents or localized clashes still occur in some areas of North Kivu province. Localities such as Bukombo, Busanza, and Tongo in the Rutshuru territory, as well as Mfunyi-shanga, Ufamandu 1st, Kamuronza, and Bashali-kahembe in the Masisi territory, have witnessed confrontations affecting local populations, including those who have recently returned. The violence and instability caused by the ongoing conflict have resulted in numerous displacements, loss of lives, human rights violations, and a deterioration of the socio-economic situation. Consequently, the affected population finds itself in a vulnerable situation with limited access to basic services such as healthcare, education, clean water, and food. Many displaced individuals are living in overcrowded collective centers or with host families, facing inadequate living conditions and limited access to essential resources. This persistent crisis situation exacerbates displacement and vulnerability among the population in affected localities, leading to new outbreaks of violence in addition to pendulum movements.

These events have significantly heightened security and humanitarian challenges in the affected areas. These successive clashes have led to prolonged displacements, intermittent movements, and pendulum movements. Since the beginning of the crisis, IOM, through the DTM, continues to conduct a series of rapid assessments, including emergency monitoring (EET/ERM), crisis analysis, and registration, with a priority to meet immediate information needs in order to understand displacement dynamics and needs. This report presents the results of the assessments conducted in different displacement and return areas between July 23 and August 24, 2023.

Between early June and mid-July 2023, pockets of instability resurfaced with new attacks by the M23 in three groupings: Bukombo in the Rutshuru territory, Bashali Mokoto, and Bashali Kaembe in the Masisi territory. This resurgence significantly exacerbated the security and humanitarian challenges in the affected areas and those controlled by rebel groups, leading to prolonged displacements and intermittent movements. This resurgence has greatly increased security issues and humanitarian challenges in both affected and rebel-controlled areas. Prolonged displacements, intermittent movements, and limited access to humanitarian assistance have compounded the complexity of the crisis and increased the vulnerability of all categories of the affected population.

Since the beginning of the crisis, IOM, through its DTM, has continued to conduct a series of rapid assessments, including emergency monitoring (EET/ERM), crisis analysis, and registration, with a priority to meet immediate information needs to understand displacement dynamics and the resulting needs. This report presents the results of the assessments conducted in different displacement and return areas between June 26 and July 23, 2023.

Although the intensity of the conflict has decreased since active negotiations, especially in March 2023, the province still faces the devastating human and financial costs of this complex and prolonged crisis. The affected territories and those controlled by rebel groups remain one of the most challenging environments for humanitarian operations, with deteriorating infrastructure, limited access in controlled areas, relatively heavy rains that also create access problems, and armed groups still present and active in different parts of the territory. This situation has resulted in prolonged displacements, intermittent movements due to pockets of conflict, persistent protection issues, and a lack of livelihoods and access to basic services for displaced people living in difficult conditions, both in sites and host communities.

Since the beginning of the crisis, IOM, through its DTM, has conducted a series of rapid assessments, including emergency monitoring, crisis analysis, and registration, with a priority to meet immediate information needs to understand displacement dynamics and the resulting needs. This dataset presents the results of the assessments conducted in different displacement and return areas between June 17 and June 25, 2023.

The presence of the M23, its non-withdrawal, and its control over key localities increase the risk of an unpredictable escalation of tensions and will perpetuate population displacement. Despite the fact that the majority of the population is still displaced, a relative calm and apparent stabilization of the situation have been observed since mid-April 2023, with some pockets of tension reemerging. This calm has also led to a relative perception of improved security, facilitating returns to certain areas, including those under the control of the M23, and could facilitate humanitarian access to crisis-affected areas.

Since the beginning of the crisis, IOM, through the DTM, has conducted a series of rapid assessments, including emergency monitoring, crisis analysis, and registration, with a priority to meet immediate information needs to understand displacement dynamics and subsequent needs and to guide direct assistance to vulnerable individuals affected. In May 2023, the DTM identified a total of 784,293 displaced persons distributed among 155,700 households and 431,998 displaced persons distributed among 86,296 households. Data collection took place between April 21, 2023, and May 9, 2023, in the affected localities of the Nyiragongo, Lubero, Rutshuru, Masisi, Walikale territories, including the city of Goma.

After an apparent lull at the end of 2022, the security situation remained volatile throughout the beginning of 2023, marked by an intensification of military operations between the Congolese Armed Forces and the armed groups of the M23 fighting to expand their control over other territories, particularly those of Masisi and Lubero. While the security situation improved in some areas following a "ceasefire" decision and the apparent withdrawal of the M23 armed group from certain localities, the impact of violence and the need for protection continue to trigger new preventive displacements, as well as secondary displacements of populations fleeing attacks on various positions of the FARDC and self-defense fighters in the territories of Masisi and Rutshuru.

The volatile security situation is causing displacements from areas marked by the presence of armed groups to relatively calm communities where displaced populations settle in collective centers, sites, and host villages. Waves of returns to certain localities resulting from a relative improvement in the security situation were observed in the context of this crisis assessment conducted by IOM from March 11 to March 20, 2023, particularly in localities affected by the crisis.

On January 31st, the fighting, which began in Rutshuru and Nyiragongo, spread to the eastern part of the Masisi territory, cutting off the rest of the adjacent area, including Goma, from a new supply route. It's worth noting that the provincial capital was already cut off from the north by National Highway, which was controlled by the M23 during its offensives in October and November 2022.

Between March 2022 and January 2023, the DTM, through its various assessments, including the "crisis monitoring," recorded an estimated displaced population of 530,190 people. An estimated number of 54,624 people, especially those returning to areas under the control of the M23, were identified. The DTM observed a net overall increase of 295,701 displaced people compared to the previous crisis assessment report from November 2022. While return movements have been limited, the difference between the assessments is significant in that 48,768 individuals have returned, mainly to areas controlled by the M23.

In the Rutshuru territory, these attacks have displaced 234,488 people (40,027 households) from combat areas (Jomba, Bweza, and Kisigari groupings) to areas considered secure in the Nyiragongo, Rutshuru, and Lubero territories, including the health zones of Nyiragongo, Bambo Kayna, and Kibirizi. The security situation in the territory remains volatile and affects access to the populations caught in the conflict between insurgents and government forces. Attacks against communities occur almost daily since the end of October, with a level of violence that displaces the affected populations, increasing their vulnerability.