Democratic Republic of the Congo: ICRC opens office in Bunia

On 7 April the ICRC opened an office in Bunia, the main town of one of the districts situated along the border between Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Its activities there will focus on helping Congolese nationals displaced from elsewhere in the country and Sudanese refugees living in Congo-Kinshasa or in Uganda to re-establish contact with their relatives by means of Red Cross messages.

In addition to evaluating the situation in regions bordering Uganda and Sudan, the ICRC delegate in charge of the new office will set up the necessary infrastructure in preparation for the arrival of a British Red Cross team which will conduct a water and sanitation programme in the area.

The office in Bunia is manned by one expatriate and one local employee. Overall, the ICRC's delegation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo comprises 53 expatriates and 650  Congolese staff.