DRC - Emergency Assistance - ACTED 2017

March 2017 - The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is facing one of the world's gravest and forgotten humanitarian crises with approximately 7.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Exacerbating factors include extremely low levels of basic services increasing refugee populations and the violence perpetrated by approximately 60 different armed groups across the country. At least 1.9 million people in the DRC are internally displaced and a further 475 000 Congolese are living as refugees in neighbouring countries. Approximately 5 million people are food insecure and acute malnutrition is estimated at 8%. Sexual violence and other abuses related to the violence plaguing vast numbers of civilians remains a significant challenge particularly in the eastern provinces making protection a continuing priority. With GAC’s support the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) is providing assistance to address the urgent needs of up to 55 000 conflict-affected people in Tanganyika and Haut-Katanga provinces. The project focuses on increasing access to safe water and sanitation facilities as well as providing displaced people with basic household items and emergency shelter. Project activities include: (1) distributing basic household items to up to 2 200 households; (2) constructing or rehabilitating emergency shelters for up to 900 households; (3) rehabilitating or constructing up to 11 water sources benefitting up to 5 500 people; (4) constructing 6 community latrines; and (5) organizing community-based hygiene and sanitation campaigns including the distribution of up to 1 650 hygiene kits.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased access to emergency shelter and basic household items; (2) increased access to safe drinking water; and (3) increased access to sanitation facilities and hygiene supplies. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.