Emergency Food Security in the Democratic Republic of Congo - Samaritan's Purse 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 Samaritan’s Purse Canada is providing emergency agricultural support to 24 000 people (4 000 households) affected by conflict in Irumu territory Orientale province. Activities include: (1) negotiating access with local authorities to appropriate plots of land for all 4 000 households; (2) providing improved varieties of seeds to all beneficiary households through seed fairs and direct distributions; (3) providing agricultural tools such as hoes rakes and shovels to all beneficiary households; and (4) providing training on improved agricultural techniques to 200 agricultural training groups.

The expected immediate outcome for this project is increased access to interventions designed to increase food security and reduce negative coping strategies. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children.