Democratic Republic of the Congo - Emergency and Medical Humanitarian Response - MSF 2019 to 2020

February 2019 – From new violence in peaceful areas of the country such as Ituri province to multiple Ebola outbreaks and the forced return of hundreds of thousands of Congolese refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) 2018 has pushed the limits of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)'s humanitarian assistance. These challenges coupled with cyclical violence and a lack of basic services has exacerbated live-saving needs across the east and centre of the country. Millions of Congolese bear the brunt of this context which is characterized by worsening inter-ethnic tensions and conflict and where widespread human rights abuses and sexual violence are prevalent. In 2018 1.26 million Congolese were newly displaced and it is expected that 2019 will bring an additional 2.9 million returnees back to their areas of origin creating significant needs in protection livelihoods and food security. Approximately 12.8 million people are food insecure and 4.28 million children are suffering from malnutrition. With GAC’s support Doctors Without Borders aims to help address the humanitarian and medical needs of up to 300 000 people per year in 16 provinces of the DRC. The project focuses on providing urgent lifesaving emergency preventative primary and secondary healthcare and through improved surveillance early detection of possible disease outbreaks and quick assessment and response to disease outbreaks and medical and humanitarian emergencies. Project activities include: (1) providing outpatient consultations to population in area of response; (2) providing testing diagnoses and treatment of main morbidities; (3) distributing non-food item (NFI) kits including bed nets and sanitation supplies; and (4) providing individual and group counselling/mental health sessions to vulnerable groups of women children and adolescents including survivors of sexual and/or gender-based violence.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved surveillance early detection and response to disease outbreaks and medical emergencies; and (2) increased equitable access to free-of-charge preventative primary and secondary healthcare services for women men girls and boys. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained for the population of 16 provinces in DRC experiencing humanitarian crises.