Emergency Health and Nutrition Assistance in the Democratic Republic of Congo - SCC 2009

The situation remains extremely volatile in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) particularly in the provinces of North Kivu and Orientale. 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 Save the Children Canada to conduct a rapid emergency intervention addressing the risks to child health and survival in conflict-affected regions of Katwa Lubero and Musienene. The project uses a community-based therapeutic care approach to provide staff support to supplementary feeding of malnourished children; outpatient therapeutic care for severely malnourished children; referral of children with severe acute malnutrition and medical complications to in-patient managed care in Ministry of Health facilities; community mobilization and education; and nutrition surveillance. The project expects to reach at least 75% of malnourished children under 5 years of age in the conflict-affected regions and to monitor and maintain the nutritional health of over 50 000 children under 5.