Fighting in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo between the government and rebel groups has been increasing in intensity since September causing an already perilous humanitarian crisis to reach a critical level. In late October, an offensive by the rebel group Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP) led to tens of thousands of families fleeing from their homes.
A U.N. report states that more than 250,000 have fled since the increased violence bringing the number of displaced people lacking adequate food, water, shelter and healthcare to approximately 1.2 million people. Some are living in internal displaced person (IDP) camps, others with family members, and many fled to bordering countries including Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is responding to the crisis through our membership in the Action by Churches Together (ACT) International alliance. ACT partners within the DRC are working to provide assistance to the displaced people.
The high insecurity of the region has forced humanitarian organizations to severely limit or cease operations. Despite limited access, ACT has been able to deliver initial assistance to some affected communities. ACT distributed 14 day food rations and non-food items to 150 households in the Sasha Internally Displaced Persons camp. An ACT-supported therapeutic feeding center is continuing to assist 90 malnourished children and a health center in the Minova area has been supplied with medicines.
Rapid Response funds have been provided to assist approximately 6,500 Congolese refugees — mainly women and children — who fled to Uganda with food and non-food items.
An ACT appeal will be forthcoming to provide assistance to of food and non-food items, water, sanitation and shelter. In addition, particular attention will be paid to the needs for psychosocial and protection support for the displaced — especially women and children.
Although the PC(USA) has been in mission in the Congo since 1891, it has worked primarily in the Kasai region of south central Congo (bordering Angola) and in the capital city of Kinshasa. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has been working with the Presbyterian Church of Congo’s Development Program for East Kasai — PRODEK — and the Foods Resource Bank (FRB) to address key short-term and long-term constraints to food security. Begun in 2005, the FRB Micro Devru program has enabled thousands of farmers in the Kasai region of Congo to receive high-yielding, disease-resistant seed, essential tools and training in best production practices to increase food security.
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