Food Security Water and Sanitation Assistance in the Democratic Republic of Congo - ACF 2009

The situation remains extremely volatile in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) particularly in North Kivu and Orientale provinces. Renewed clashes between armed opposition groups with government forces and foreign troops are resulting in significant displacement widespread looting sexual and gender-based violence and a deterioration of humanitarian conditions. It is estimated that altogether over 1.4 million people remain displaced in DRC and that many have been displaced repeatedly. On a daily basis displaced people face insecurity weak health services and lack of food survival items safe water and sanitation facilities. CIDA's contribution is supporting Action Against Hunger to provide emergency and livelihood assistance to conflict-affected populations in the Kivu provinces. The intervention aims to increase access to sufficient quantities of sustainable potable water in order to prevent an increase in cholera and other waterborne diseases; increase access to appropriate and effective sanitation infrastructures; improve the target population's hygiene awareness and practices; and to facilitate agricultural and horticultural production and processing methods in order to help generate and improve and incomes of vulnerable households. The project aims to reach an estimated 46 000 beneficiaries.