The United Nations and its partners have launched an appeal for just under $60 million to help more than 100,000 refugees from the north-west of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who have fled ethnic violence and are seeking refuge in the neighboring Republic of Congo.
The funds will help some 110,000 refugees, the vast majority of whom are women and children, as well as 58,000 people in the Republic of Congo’s host areas for a six-month period.
Clashes broke out last October when Enyele militiamen launched deadly assaults on ethnic Munzayas over fishing and farming rights in the Dongo area of Equateur province of DRC.
The tensions have enveloped most of Equateur, sending some 114,000 to the Republic of Congo, driving some 60,000 to other parts of the province, and forcing an additional 17,000 people to seek refuge in the Central African Republic (CAR).
“The government and people of the Republic of Congo have once again responded generously to refugees escaping fighting in the DRC”, said Mr. John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs.
“But they have very limited resources and a small population, over half of whom subsist on $1.25 per day,” he pointed out. “Significant support is therefore required from the international community,” he added.
The government, UN agencies and other groups carried out two assessment missions last November, which found that food, livelihood support, clean water, health care and education as among the top needs.
UN entities also taking part in the appeal are the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the UN Population Fund ( UNFPA ).
Source African Press Agency
African News from NetNewsPublisher.com
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