Briefing note for HDP actors in Idjwi territory (July 2025)

The Idjwi territory is geographically located between Bukavu and Goma, two cities on which it relies heavily for the supply and distribution of its agricultural and lake-based products. Idjwi Island is often described as a peaceful place, having never been the scene of armed conflict or the presence of armed groups, much less the rising insecurity observed in other territories of South Kivu. However, it is affected by events unfolding in other territories, notably Kalehe (South Kivu), Masisi, and Goma (North Kivu). Last February, civil society organizations had counted more than 42,000 displaced people from Kalehe (South Kivu) and North Kivu. Some of them were staying with host families, while others were in schools and churches, which disrupted educational activities and strained resources. Today, that number has decreased significantly. According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 41,000 of these displaced people returned to their areas of origin in March and April 2025.