According to the latest monitoring report on mobility from Tanganyika 321,971 individuals have returned home or resettled an integrated into communities around Kalemie. This has led to the closure of 3 our 5 sites for internally displaced persons (IDP) and provided durable solutions for these individuals. This is a result of a joint plan developed by the humanitarian community and the provincial government with contributions made form the humanitarian and development actors. This partnership has made direct contributions to this process.
IOM has received a total of 33,367,727 SEK through one payment in December 2021 and one in May 2022. On the 30 of September, they had a balance of 5,941,557 SEK. This money is planned to be spent before the next payment is made which is scheduled for February 2023 (17 000 000 SEK).
With this financing, the following key achievements have been made during the reporting period (1 October 2021-30 September 2022):
Outcome 1: The social cohesion and mental health of displacement-affected communities is strengthened through inclusive and participatory governance mechanisms and mental health and psychosocial support service (MHPSS).
1. Five Local Committees (LC) were established
2. 74 LC members were trained in conflict resolution and mediation
3. 4 community forums were organized to identify priority infrastructures to be rehabilitated and major conflicts that may be obstacles to the reintegration of beneficiaries
4. Early warning mechanism has been established in each of the five target villages
5. 34 members of existing MHPSS providers were trained to strengthen service delivery and improve referral to other mental health service providers
Outcome 2: Displacement affected communities are more resilient through enhanced economic opportunities and access to basic services.
1. Assessment of return areas has been conducted on durable solutions indicators to provide data that will accurately inform the plan for all stabilization, durable solutions, and development interventions in the areas of return
2. Rehabilitation or construction of three boreholes in Mulengi, Saliboko and Lukwangulo
3. Supported sustainable land rights for returnee populations in coordination with the Ministry of Land Affairs and customary chiefs through joint field visits and exchange meetings.
4. Conducted detailed market research to identify economic opportunities
The Embassy has visited the project in the villages outside of Kalemie and seen that the financing spent has led to an integration of IDPs in host communities. These households have been allocated land for farming and the entire village has received mental health support.
The mental health support is challenging due to very low levels of resources inside the local health system. During the Embassys visit a meeting was organized with the only mental health representative from the government, she has no human nor financial resources and works from a colleagues office or from home. The majority of the few mental health services that exist are in the domain of gender based violence and the health centers do not have the capacity to take on other mental health cases. Support will be provided under this contribution to create psychosocial support spaces which is a good first step but during the visit to IOM in the field the sustainability of the approach was discussed considering that there are no government structures to build on.
The inclusion of mental health in this project is strategic as many conflicts in relocation and integration processes relate to the trauma experienced by individuals. The lack of knowledge of the fact that mental health has an impact on relationships makes the task of communication more difficult. This was observed by the Embassy during the most recent field visit where the stigma attached to acknowledging the need of help when suffering from trauma was visible. It was also evident during this visit that those who had acknowledged the need to find help to process their trauma were finding the relocation process much easier to process.
Land rights issues is also a challenge in the reintegration of displaced households in local villages. In the relocation from Kiyamesunji to Hongwa village there was an issue of insufficient living space. This has highlighted the boundary conflicts between the two villages that claim the land. This challenge illustrates the complexity of Tanganyika province where large numbers of displaced populations are being relocated and integrated into the villages around the provincial capital. While this is a durable solution for the IDPs and the village chiefs are being accommodating to the process, it is not without concern that future tensions will arise. It is important for IOM to follow these situations and ensure that no harm is done with the integration of IDPs and that the solutions found regarding access to land sustain over time.
