[child-rights] DR Congo: 10,000 newly displaced people receive emergency assistance from UNICEF

KINSHASA, 21 December 2005 -- UNCEF in the Democratic Republic of Congo
has provided emergency relief items to over 10,000 newly displaced people
in three camps, north of Katanga province. Plastic sheeting, blankets,
soap, cooking utensils, jerry cans and BP-5 have been distributed to the
displaced families by MSF-Holland. This immediate emergency response has
helped ensure that the vulnerable populations are able to cope with to the
present crisis with dignity.

The UNICEF supplies were quickly dispatched as soon as the needs of the
displaced populations were identified. A 2 day inter-agency mission to
Mutabi-Dubie (a town located 450 kilometres north of Lubumbashi, the
capital of Katanga province) took place from the 15 to 16 of December 2005
with a team of UN Agencies (WFP, IMO, MONUC) as well as other
international and local organisations. The objective of the mission was to
assess the situation on the ground, following a recent resurgence of
conflict between the national armed force (FARDC) and militia groups in
the area.

Over 10,000 displaced people are presently living in three camps managed
by MSF-Holland in the district of Pweto. The MSF reports indicate that
about 300 to 400 newly displaced persons arrive in the camps every day.
Majority of them are women and children.

UNICEF’s medium term emergency assistance will cover additional essential
supplies for primary health care and nutrition, assistance to local
organizations working to reintegration children released from armed groups
into their communities as well as providing educational supplies and
materials for the displaced.

In addition to the basic essential needs, food is among the most pressing
needs. The World Food programme (WFP) is working with Caritas, a local
NGO, to address this.

For more information, please contact:
Anthony Bloomberg, UNICEF DRC Representative (00243) 81 33 30 202
Silvia Danailov, UNICEF DRC Emergency Officer (00243) 818846746 or
Joyce Brandful (00243) 818846746

UNICEF Press release



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