Andrew Mitchell (Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, International Development; Sutton Coldfield, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to seek to encourage MONUC and the Government of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to ensure that Operation Kimia 2 does not cause harm to civilians in eastern DRC; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Rhondda, Labour)

The UK continues to support civilian protection as the UN mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (MONUC)'s highest priority under UN Security Council Resolution 1856, and will do so for its new mandate. MONUC forces have performed well in very difficult circumstances. The UK is working closely with the UN to address the security situation in the areas most vulnerable to violence.

MONUC's response in this area includes deployment of joint civilian-military protection teams, where civilian staff specialising in different areas (human rights, child protection, civilian affairs etc) go out into the field with MONUC military and undertake a range of liaison activities with the local population to better understand their protection needs. MONUC has developed a conditionality policy as a means of withdrawing support from Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) units implicated in serious human rights abuses.

We also continue to urge DRC government of the need to respect International Humanitarian Law and not force Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to return. IDPs and refugee returns is a key strand of the DRC government Stabilisation and Reconstruction Plan and the Humanitarian Action Plan. We will keep working with the DRC government to implement these plans in coordination with humanitarian partners.