DRC - Emergency Assistance - Save the Children Canada 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 the support of GAC Save the Children Canada is providing assistance to address the urgent needs of up to 25 679 conflict-affected people in South Kivu province including Burundian refugees. This project focuses on increasing access to protection services for vulnerable people nutrition interventions as well as access to safe water and sanitation facilities. Project activities include: (1) equipping 5 child-friendly spaces benefiting up to 8.995 people; (2) providing gender-sensitive psychosocial support for up to 400 beneficiaries; (3) equipping and staffing 10 outpatient therapeutic programs located in health centers benefitting up to 18 100 people; (4) constructing up to 25 latrines and repairing up to 10 water points in health centres; and (5) promoting and improving hygiene practices of up to 25 000 people.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased access to gender-sensitive child protection services; (2) increased access to nutrition interventions preventing acute malnutrition; 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.