535,556 refugees and asylum seekers in DRC, among them 52% women.
99.3% of refugees in DRC live in rural areas, and 74% live outside refugee camps or settlements.
95 refugees voluntary returned from DRC to Rwanda in January 2019
Main activities – Refugees
Protection
UNHCR provides practical and technical support to national, provincial and local authorities, including the National Commission for Refugees (CNR). UNHCR trains key counterparts on principles of refugee protection and international law. It collaborates with national authorities on the biometric registration of refugees, and facilitates the provision of refugee ID documents by Congolese authorities, as well as access to civil registration.
UNHCR monitors arrivals, the protection environment (rule of law, civilian character of asylum, access to justice, non refoulement), and specific needs, including at borders and in refugee-hosting areas. UNHCR works towards child protection, including through support for Best Interest Determination (BID) assessments, and carries out detention monitoring.
Individual support and assistance is also provided, including advocacy and the preparation and submission of urgent resettlement cases.
It also facilitates access to the justice system, including through support for police in hosting areas, mobile courts, and the availability of legal aid.
Lastly, UNHCR supports access to land for agriculture and housing, with a view to allowing alternatives to camps and supporting self-reliance wherever possible.