page_title: 2008 Nord-Kivu campaign
section_title: Tension between MONUC and DR Congo troops, opening of humanitarian aid corridor
hierarchical_section_title: 2008 Nord-Kivu campaign / Timeline / Tension between MONUC and DR Congo troops, opening of humanitarian aid corridor
caption_attribution_description: English: "Kibati camp is between the government forces postions and the CNDP rebels, about a kilometer separates them. Through our implementing partner Solidarites we started the distribution of plastic sheets, blankets, jerrycans, soap, and cooking sets to thousands in Kibati; these are essential survival items that will ward off diseases such as malaria, respiratory infections, cholera, diarrhea, etc. We aim to serve 3,000 families. At the same time we had measles vaccinations continue for 13,000 children in Kibati; like cholera, measles risks spreading rapidly during large population movement and is a major child killer With our partner Save the Children we working on reuniting children with their families; 152 children separated from their families identified in Kibati since Oct 27th. Our partner Mercy corps was trucking water for tens of thousands of displaced; hundreds of latrines constructed; and hygiene practices promoted; all these interventions are critical to containing the spread of cholera and diarrhea epidemics." - author
context_page_description: The 2008 Nord-Kivu campaign was an armed conflict in the eastern Nord-Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The upsurge of violence in the Kivu conflict saw heavy battles between the Democratic Republic of Congo's army, supported by the United Nations, and Tutsi militia under General Laurent Nkunda.
  The fighting, which began on October 25, uprooted 250,000 civilians — bringing the total of people displaced by the Kivu conflict to more than 2 million. The campaign caused widespread civil unrest, large food shortages and what the United Nations called "a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic dimensions." After a week, a ceasefire was ordered by rebel forces amongst civil and military unrest in Goma. The rebel capture of all territory around Goma created a very fragile atmosphere of peace, caused enormous political damage, and called to question the efficacy of the peacekeepers stationed there. After a short cease-fire ordered by rebel general Laurent Nkunda, fighting broke out on November 17, after which a second ceasefire was called into effect on November 19.
context_section_description: On November 23, 2008, government soldiers intercepted a UN convoy 2 kilometers north of Goma which was carrying 25 suspected Mai-Mai militants, unbeknownst to the government, and removed them, relocating them to Goma on the grounds of suspecting them to be rebel soldiers. The UN, which was transporting the militiamen as an "ongoing disarmament and rehabilitation process", refused to give the militants to the government troops, but eventually let them go; some witness reports stated that the government's troops forcibly removed the militiamen from the UN vehicles while an onlooking crowd insulted and threw stones at the peacekeepers.
  While rebel troops did abide by the temporary ceasefire, Nkunda spoke to a crowd of 1,500 in a stadium in the rebel-held town of Rutshuru to tell them to reject the recent deployment of 3,000 more peacekeepers. He stated, "They are sending another 3,000 Blue Helmets and you are applauding. You are mistaken! We will not accept outsiders coming in to provide security for us here. Either you help us in the revolution or you keep quiet with MONUC. But if you wait for MONUC to bring you peace, you can wait forever."
  Meanwhile, aid convoys were able to distribute medical supplies throughout the "humanitarian aid corridor", created by the rebel withdrawal. The corridor, patrolled by MONUC troops, allowed aid groups such as Merlin to access Kanyabayonga and Kirumba, which had gone for 10 days without supplies and were nearly depleted. While not nominal, the situation was referred to as "much better." "We're really pleased that we've gotten here", stated spokeswoman Louise Orton.
caption: Refugees wait to get supplies
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