Update on Congo Crisis Appeal Response - 28th November

In August 2008 an upsurge of fighting drove thousands of people to flee from their homes. Around 250,000 people have been displaced and early reports show that several camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been looted and burnt. Investigations about widespread violations of human rights and humanitarian laws are under way. 

As fighting continues, recruitment of children by rebels in the combat zone has been reported by UN agencies and aid groups. According to UNICEF, 37 children have been abducted and an estimated 3,000 boys and girls are currently being detained by armed groups. Meanwhile, hundreds of schools have been closed for security reasons.

DEC Member Agencies are responding to the needs of those displaced by the continuing crisis in the east of DR Congo and the host families who have supported them. Many already had ongoing programmes based in Goma so were in a position to quickly scale up.

Key Activities will include:
Protection and support for children and adults in camps for displaced people, including the provision of shelter;

  • Distribution of food
  • Distribution of non-food items such as cooking pots and utensils, clothes and water carriers
  • Protection, care and treatment of the survivors of violence, including sexual violence
  • Psychosocial support and family reunification
  • Reduction of mortality and morbidity through provision of emergency medical treatment including the establishment and running of
  • Cholera treatment centres
  • Improve access to water, sanitation and hygiene promotion
  • If and when security improves enough for families to return to their villages, agencies will assist in the transition with:
  • Support for livelihoods and income generating activities such as the replacement of lost seeds, tools and livestock and help to re-establish markets;
  • Improved access to basic facilities and services such as shelter, health, clean water and sanitation facilities;
  • Re-establishment of health and education facilities
  • Provision of HIV testing and ongoing psychological support
  • Strengthening the local economy and infrastructure through the provision of cash for work opportunities and development of road and bridge infrastructure to facilitate access to markets