CERF Allocates $8.1 Million for Underfunded Emergency in DRC.
16 September 2010: CERF has allocated over $8 million to assist IDPs and returnees in the eastern province of Chad.
Close to $3 million has been allocated to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for nutrition, water and sanitation (WASH), education, and non-food items for the vulnerable population and children in the eastern part of the country. The World Food Programme (WFP) will use $1.4 million to provide logistics for the humanitarian community in the provinces of Orientale, north and south Kivu. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has received $1.2 million for emergency shelter assistance and distribution of non-food items for vulnerable people in the affected area. Some $800,000 has gone to the World Health Organization (WHO) for emergency support in the health sector in the affected areas. Close to $800,000 has been allocated to the International Organization of Migration (IOM) for rehabilitation of the Axis-Dungu Bitima area. Some $650,000 has gone to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for emergency assistance for emergency agricultural assistance for 6,500 families affected by military operations. Finally, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has received $350,000 to provide emergent obstetric and neonatal care, sexually transmitted infections (STI) treatment, and care for victims of sexual violence.
Halfway through the year 2010, after reconciliation and dialogue between the DRC and its neighbours, violence has decreased significantly in several areas of eastern DRC. Consequently, hundreds of thousands of displaced people have returned to their homes. However, violence against civilians, especially in the two Kivus and Uélés is still a major concern.
In north Kivu, the number of IDPs and returnees is estimated at over 1.5 million. In south Kivu, there were 843,000 IDPs and returnees. More than 367,000 people are internally displaced in Uélés.
Due to the ongoing military operations, it is difficult to provide humanitarian assistance in north Kivu and Uélés. Cases of sexual violence, abduction of civilians, looting of property and cattle, burning houses and killing also continue to be reported in these areas. They are also reported to be food insecure and lack of access to drinking water, which usually results in spread of waterborne diseases.
[Last updated: 9 November 2010]
CERF has allocated $16 million to DRC for its underfunded humanitarian programmes.
11 March 2010: The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will receive $7.9 million for the education of 46,000 children, treatment of severe malnutrition of 46,000 children under age 5, protection of 2,400 children, non-food items and storage of urgent reserves for 24,000 people, and urgent provision of water and sanitation support for 250,000 displaced people and cholera victims. The World Food Programme (WFP) will receive $3.2 million for the provision of aerial humanitarian transportation service in the country. Some $2.6 million will go to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for nutritional support for 29,000 families affected by the conflict and malnutrition in north and south Kivu, Kasaï and the Province Orientale. Close to $1.2 has been allocated to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for the registration and profiling of 116,000 displaced people in camps and shelter assistance for 10,000 people in Dungu and Mwenga. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been allocated $700,000 to improve accessibility and quality of care for 16,000 mothers and 80,000 children under age 5 in north Kivu, and for the acceleration of vaccinations and reinforcement of routine vaccinations for 93,000 people. Finally, $400,000 will go to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for maternal and neonatal health services for 65,000 people in the province of Bas-Congo, Bandundu and Kasaï -Occidnetal.
The situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo remains very unstable due to problems such as food insecurity, limited access to social services, and cholera. In addition, Bas Congo, Badundu, and Kasais provinces of DRC received massive number of refugees from Angola. The majority of the refugees have lost basic goods and are dependent on receiving families.
Although the country needs $827 million for humanitarian needs this year, as of February 2010, the Humanitarian Action Plan (HAP) only covers $59 million. In 2009, the HAP covered only up to 64% of what was needed. This contribution makes CERF one of the largest single source of revenue for the DRC Humanitarian Action Plan this year.
[Last updated: 15 April 2010]