U.N. launches $550 Million Appeal to meet emergency needs in Great Lakes Region and Central Africa
Press Release
AFR/40
IHA/650
UNITED NATIONS LAUNCHES $550 MILLION
APPEAL TO MEET EMERGENCY NEEDS OF OVER 5 MILLION PEOPLE IN GREAT LAKES
REGION AND CENTRAL AFRICA
NEW YORK, 27 February (Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) -- The United Nations today
launched a Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Countries of the Great
Lakes Region and Central Africa, seeking $550 million to meet the emergency
needs of over five million people in 1998 in Burundi, Democratic Republic
of the Congo, Rwanda, United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda. The humanitarian
programme for the Republic of the Congo is currently under preparation,
and will be issued as an addendum to this Appeal early next month.
The humanitarian situation in the region
still remains grave. Cross- border and internal tensions are on the increase,
leaving hundreds of thousands vulnerable to attack. Over 2 million people
are displaced throughout the region. In addition, the food deficit has
increased, social services have been disrupted and the economies have become
severely debilitated. These afflictions have been further compounded by
the effects of recent drought and flooding.
The Appeal reflects the complex mosaic
of requirements in the region. It aims at providing the basic life-saving
assistance still needed while also assisting countries in rebuilding their
national infrastructures.
In each country, the nature of emergency
needs and affected populations is unique. In Burundi, the affected population
includes displaced or regrouped persons, returnees and refugees. Assistance
is also sought for those within the general population who have been acutely
affected by the civil strife and sanctions. In the Democratic Republic
of the Congo, humanitarian assistance will be directly primarily towards
displaced persons, returnees and refugees, particularly in the conflict-affected
eastern regions, as well as for the rehabilitation of communities.
Assistance to Rwanda is intended to
support recovery from war and genocide and the reintegration of repatriated
families. In the United Republic of Tanzania, the Appeal will support the
needs of refugees and their host communities and provide assistance
in response to drought, flood and epidemics. In Uganda, the target populations
are principally those in the conflict-affected northern and western regions
and those affected by drought, flood and epidemics.
The Appeal has been formulated in line
with Secretary-General Kofi Annan's programme for reform, in that it seeks
to address both basic relief needs and reconstruction requirements of war-damaged
societies in a balanced and integrated fashion. It also incorporates capacity-building
activities identified by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights. In so doing, the Appeal attempts to build an environment conducive
to reconciliation and sustainable development. It is hoped that the international
community will respond generously in helping the people of the Great Lakes
region and Central Africa to break the cycle of destructive crises and
embark on the path of reconstruction and reconciliation.