Sir, – Over 130,000 people have been displaced by fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in recent weeks. Reports of rape, lootings and summary executions have continued since the rebel group M23 took over Goma, the second-largest city in the country, on November 20th, and held it for two weeks. But even before the seizure, civilians in eastern Congo had been to a staggering increase in killing, rape and extortion over a period of several months.
Despite this appalling humanitarian situation, Congo remains a forgotten problem, ignored and out of the glare of the world’s media.
The forthcoming presidency of the EU offers a key opportunity for Ireland to ensure the DRC is raised higher up the international agenda.
We would urge the Irish Government to use its role as EU president, as well as its membership of the UN Human Rights Council and other relevant forums, to enhance the profile and efforts devoted by international leaders to support a long-term political solution to this military and humanitarian crisis.
We urge the Irish Government to put pressure on the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUSCO), with 19,000 men in uniform and costing $1.4 billion a year, the world’s biggest and most expensive peacekeeping operation, to implement its civilian protection mandate: a core mandate which this force has continually failed in.
Donor governments must step up funding for the crisis. Of the $791 million combined humanitarian appeal requested for the DRC in 2012, only 56 per cent has been so far funded ($442 million). Ireland has contributed over $5 million, more than its “fair share”.
Diplomatic efforts to find a long-lasting solution addressing the root causes of the conflict must be reinvigorated. Nonetheless, the immediate need is the protection of civilians and safe access for humanitarian agencies to save lives and prevent the further deterioration of an already appalling situation.
We urge the Irish Government to use all its offices and influence to make this neglected emergency a global priority. – Yours, etc,