Emergency Health Care in the Democratic Republic of Congo - Doctors without Borders 2014

March 2014 – Conflict and insecurity in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which intensified in late 2012 and early 2013 has continued in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces and expanded in Orientale Maniema and Katanga provinces. The ongoing violence has resulted in large-scale new displacement significant protection needs and the destruction of assets livelihoods and basic infrastructure. More than 2.8 million Congolese are currently displaced and 450 000 others are living as refugees in neighbouring countries. Overall an estimated 6.3 million people in the DRC require humanitarian assistance this year an increase of nearly 1 million from last year. With DFATD’s support Doctors Without Borders is addressing the urgent medical needs of up to 155 567 vulnerable people in Shabunda territory South Kivu province. Activities include: (1) providing quality primary emergency healthcare including vaccinations and treatment of severe acute malnutrition and medical assistance to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence; (2) providing quality secondary emergency healthcare including war surgery and emergency obstetric interventions; and (3) providing medical assistance and household items to vulnerable people affected by disease outbreaks including cholera and malaria.

The expected immediate outcome for this project is increased access to basic emergency healthcare for vulnerable people. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children.