DRC: ERC Amos' visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo

Every day, this young boy brings water to his neighbourhood using his bycicle. Every 20-liters jerry can costs him 10 congolese francs, which is about 0.01 USD. The management of this emergency water treatment system was transfered to the national water management entreprise (REGIDESO) mid-2007 by the UNICEF and its partners. Credit: OCHA/Charline Burton

ERC Valerie Amos is in the Democratic republic of the Congo on her first official visit to the country.  During the three-day mission the ERC will travel to two of the provinces most affected by armed violence: North Kivu and Province Orientale.

The humanitarian situation in the DRC is one of the world’s most serious and long-standing, with a background of widespread poverty, instability, and continuous abuses directed against civilians. It is estimated that almost 1.7 million people are internally displaced in the DRC due to armed violence. Most have continuing and significant humanitarian needs.

8 March 2011 marks the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. On this day, dedicated to celebrating women's achievements worldwide, ERC Amos in a statement talks about the women in conflict-affected regions in DRC and the threats to their safety and livelihoods they face daily.

More>>  Rdc-Humanitaire  -  OCHA Press Release  -  ERC Statement  -  ReliefWeb