10 Feb 2009 - In an effort to support the agencies of the United Nations and non governmental organizations, a team of emergency telecommunications specialists from Télécoms Sans Frontières deployed a Telecom Centre in Dungu (Democratic Republic of the Congo).

Trapped in a conflict between the Congolese armed forces and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), the civilian populations of the Dungu territory (near the Sudanese border in the eastern province of DRC) are increasingly victim to rape, pillage and murder. Since the governments of the RDC and Uganda joined forces to eliminate the LRA in 2008, the rising conflict has led to mass displacements of populations estimated between 25000 and 50000 people-a crisis that is expected to exacerbate in the coming months.

Aid agencies have joined forces to protect civilian populations and save lives in this unstable region with limited telecommunication infrastructure. A major refugee camp is currently being established to meet the needs of the tens of thousands of internally displaced persons.

An Emergency Communication Centre was installed in Dungu located at the MONUC Compound. 15 to 20 aid workers from OCHA, UNICEF, WFP and UNHCR are using it daily.