Emergency Support to Internally Displaced People in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo - WFP 2012

The eastern region of Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing a new wave of violence that has forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee their homes in the provinces of North Kivu Orientale and northern Katanga. More than 220 000 people in the province have been displaced since April 2012. An additional 57 677 Congolese have crossed into neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda. CIDA's support of this World Food Programme (WFP) Emergency Operation in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo is helping to meet the basic humanitarian needs of populations affected by insecurity and conflict. WFP is providing general food distributions and cash vouchers to targeted groups; providing emergency food-for-work to internally displaced people repatriated refugees and members of vulnerable host families; and supplying supplementary feeding to moderately malnourished children under five and pregnant and lactating women through existing health centres.

Through this project the World Food Programme (WFP) is able to respond swiftly to rapid-onset emergencies in Eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. WFP field operations will include: providing food assistance through designated distribution (IDPs sites camps therapeutic feeding centres); activating emergency response mechanisms using ground-breaking technology to undertake assessments and to direct assistance where most needed; undertaking local and regional purchase; and logistical and telecommunications support to transport food to crisis zones through the use of ships planes helicopters and trucks. Expected intermediate outcomes include: This project will contribute to: saving lives and protecting livelihoods in emergencies with a focus on internally displaced people and vulnerable host communities; preventing acute hunger and investing in disaster preparedness and mitigation measures; restoring and rebuilding lives and livelihoods in post-conflict post-disaster or transition situations; and strengthening the capacities of countries to reduce hunger through handover strategies and local purchase.