CERF allocates $2 million for Poliomyelitis vaccine in Congo

9 December 2010:  In response to the poliomyelitis outbreak in the Congo, CERF has allocated $2 million dollars to three nation-wide emergency immunization campaigns targeting the whole population of 4.1 million people. In order to reduce the loss of lives and the incidence of paralysis, the project will consist of a comprehensive outbreak investigation, support for the local government in planning and implementing the immunization campaigns, and a communications campaign to disseminate approved messages.  Some $1.3 million has been allocated to the United Nations Children’s Fund which will support social mobilization strategies.  $700,000 has been allocated to the World Health Organization (WHO) for nationwide emergency vaccination campaigns using fixed, outreach, and mobile vaccination strategies. 

Although polio had been largely eradicated around the world, 23 countries have been re-infected between 2009 and 2010.  The new outbreak in the Congo, first reported on October 1, 2010, has resulted in 476 infections and 180 deaths.  Sixty per cent of the affected population consisted of young men and women between the ages of 15 and 29.  At its peak, the fatality rate for the disease reached 47 per cent.  This is the first outbreak of polio in the Congo since 2000.

[Last updated: 6 January 2010]

CERF Allocates $3 Million for Underfunded Emergency Situation in Republic of Congo.

22 October 2010: CERF allocates $3 million to provide multi-sectoral assistance to refugees and host communities in the Department of Likouala, Republic of Congo (RoC).

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will receive $745,000 to improve access to drinking water and sanitation as well as education for refugee children.  The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was allocated $582,000 to ensure the protection of refugee women, children, and refugees with special needs, and to strengthen access of refugee children to community-based primary education.  The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will use $477,000 to ensure access to and strengthen existing reproductive health centres, improve protection against sexual and gender-based violence of refugee women with special needs, and provide medical and psychosocial support to victims in the Department of Likouala.  The World Health Organization (WHO) has been allocated $345,000 for integrated disease surveillance and for the improvement of access to safe drinking water in refugee camps in RoC.  The World Food Programme (WFP) will receive $334,000 to improve local roads in order to ensure the humanitarian supply line in the Department of Likouala.  The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will use $211,000 to support primary and secondary schools in refugee camps.  The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will use $188,000 to bolster food security in refugee populations in RoC. 

Since October 2009 a total of 114,722 refugees have fled armed clashes in Equator Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and found refuge in RoC.  The presence of these refugees has caused the socio-economic situation to deteriorate in the host region due to the heavy burden imposed on the local population, estimated at 65,000 people.  This is compounded by significant challenges in security and logistics, hampering the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The cost of response activities is high and further support is essential to reach the most remote areas and vulnerable people in dire need of assistance.

[Last updated: 1 November 2010]

CERF in the Republic of Congo 2009
CERF in the Republic of Congo 2008
CERF in the Republic of Congo 2007