CERF gives $7 million to Republic of Congo following arms depot explosions

30 April 2012: The Government and humanitarian partners are responding to clear up unexploded ammunition scattered by the arms depot explosions that killed more than 200 people in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, earlier this month. More than 121,000 people have sought refuge in religious and sports facilities near the blast and an estimated 15,000 internally displaced people (IDP) remain homeless in IDP sites.

In response, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) provided nearly US$7 million to seven UN agencies to provide aid to affected people.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) received $2.8 million to fund six projects to provide emergency education to 20,000 children, psycho-social support, emergency food and nutrition screening and other activities for people affected by the expositions. The UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) received $1.4 million to support the clearance of unexploded ordnances. Food assistance will be delivered 28,000 people for three months by the UN World Food Programme (WFP), which received grants totaling $1.2 million from CERF. WFP-funded projects will also support activities to strengthen the logistics capacity of Government to respond to the crisis.

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) received $758,000 to help procure and install tents and support the management of IDP camps. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) received more than $340,000 to support the delivery of reproductive health services, including maternal health services, and implement gender-based violence prevention and response activities. The World Health Organization (WHO) received $336,000 to provide training to health workers on health, hygiene and sanitation and provide medical equipment and medication to health care providers.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) also received $181,000 from the Fund to provide psychosocial support to children affected by the disaster.