Ban Ki-moon visits internally displaced persons camp in DRC

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday and visited the Mungote camp, home to more than 10,000 internally displaced persons.

He reiterated his calls for support from member states to unite in resolving such humanitarian crisis.

“All your lives at this time are very difficult, but the United Nations and the international community are working very hard to support you,” he said.

The camps hosting internally displaced persons in the country are under threat of closure after the discovery of weapons in one of the camps.

He however urged the authorities in the country not to close the camps as the UN will work together with both the local and central governments to provide life-saving assistance to the affected people.

According to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the number of displaced persons in DR Congo stands at 1.6 million people with North Kivu having the biggest share at 604,000 as of late September last year.

The UN boss is in the country for two days and is expected to hold bilateral talks with President Joseph Kabila later in the day.

He is also scheduled to meet government officials, political and civil rights representatives in the country.