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By Patrick Mapenzi
In response to the trauma of displacement and the loss of everything they once owned, UNHCR, AIRD and the Humanitarian Fund for the DRC are restoring hope and dignity to vulnerable populations by providing safe shelter for more than 100 families.
In Kibati, in the territory of Nyiragongo, North Kivu Province, the scars left by repeated crises remain visible on people’s faces. However, a new sense of optimism is now emerging in the area. Through coordinated humanitarian efforts, more than 100 returning families have finally been provided with decent homes.
Crises and forced displacement do more than destroy homes; they also disrupt people’s sense of belonging, break up communities and shatter lives. For these families returning to their places of origin, the most urgent need went far beyond simply finding protection from the elements. It was about regaining a sense of stability and finding a peaceful place where they could heal from past wounds and begin looking towards the future.
This is precisely the objective of the initiative led by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), together with its operational partner, AIRD, and made possible through crucial financial support from the Humanitarian Fund for the DRC, through OCHA DRC.
By completing the construction of these modern and secure shelters in the areas of Goma and Nyiragongo, humanitarian organisations are laying the foundations for a fresh start for the affected families.
These new homes provide protection and serve as an essential factor in promoting social stability in North Kivu Province, a region that continues to seek lasting peace. By offering families a secure living environment, the project enables parents to restore a sense of normality in their children’s lives and focus on what matters most: resuming income-generating activities and rebuilding their independence.
Key achievements of the project include:
- More than 100 families have already been provided with decent and secure accommodation.
- A targeted response to the urgent needs of returning populations in Goma and Nyiragongo.
- A strong partnership bringing together the Humanitarian Fund for the DRC, OCHA, UNHCR and AIRD.
Although the completion and handover of these shelters represent a major milestone and bring immense relief to the beneficiaries, significant challenges remain in this part of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Needs related to community recovery, security and psychosocial support remain considerable.
The story of Kibati serves as a powerful reminder that, in the face of adversity, international and local solidarity, when well coordinated and effectively implemented, remains one of the most meaningful ways to transform distress into hope.
