Emergency Assistance in the Democratic Republic of Congo - UNICEF Appeal 2013

September 2013 - Insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo escalated sharply in late 2012 and throughout 2013 due to a major increase in ethnic and resource-driven violence and banditry carried out by numerous armed groups particularly in North and South Kivu provinces. This surge in violence has resulted in large-scale displacement of people from their homes greater need to provide protection for people and the destruction of assets livelihoods and basic infrastructure. People in affected areas are already extremely vulnerable due to chronic poverty and underdevelopment poor governance and very limited access to basic services. Cholera measles and malaria continue to take a toll across the country but are particularly prevalent in areas of high displacement. In addition an estimated 6.35 million people across the country are acutely food insecure or without access to safe nutritious and sufficient food including 1.2 million children who are malnourished. With the support of DFATD and other donors UNICEF’s 2013 emergency operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo aim to provide protection and assistance to an estimated 11.2 million people affected by conflict and displacement. Funding is allocated according to the greatest need in the areas of: child protection; nutrition support; basic healthcare; water sanitation and hygiene services; emergency education for children; and the provision of basic relief items such as blankets and mosquito nets.

The expected outputs for this project include: (i) 300 000 children under five years old suffering from severe acute malnutrition have received treatment; (ii) 600 000 conflict-affected people have received medical assistance; (iii) six million children under five years old have benefited from measles response interventions; (iv) 400 000 displaced persons and host community members have received access to potable water sources and sanitation facilities; (v) 1 645 000 people in cholera-prone zones have benefited from preventive as well as cholera-response packages; (vi) 4 500 children formerly associated with armed forces and armed groups have been reunited and reintegrated into the community; (vii) 8 500 survivors of sexual-based violence have been provided with comprehensive services including medical care psychosocial support legal counseling and reintegration assistance; (viii) 182 500 crisis-affected children have been supported through emergency education assistance; and (ix) 1.5 million displaced people have received emergency shelter and essential household items. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children.