A snapshot of the Consolidated Appeal for the Republic of the Congo for 2000

How much is required?
Total of US$ 17.1 million for:

Health & Nutrition: US$ 10.2 million; Food Security & Agricultural Production: US$ 1.8 million; Human Rights, Peace, Reconciliation & Reintegration: US$ 2.1 million; Protection of Children & Primary Education: US$ 2 million; Shelter: US$ 250,000; Coordination: US$ 634,000

WHERE IS IT HAPPENING?

  • Intense conflict between the Government and opposition backed militias flared again in the Republic of the Congo late last year and early 1999. As the fighting spread from the Pool region to the nation's capital Brazzaville where most of the country's population resides, some 230,000 people were displaced towards the north of Brazzaville, the interior of the Pool region and the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo. Entire towns such as Dolisie and Nkayi the third (80,000 people) and fourth (60,000 people) largest respectively were emptied of their inhabitants, looted and severely damaged. With the exception of Pointe Noire, which received 100,000 IDPs, the coastal region remained untouched by the conflict.
  • The conflict has created some 810,000 people in need of assistance of which 170,000 are IDPs, some 200,000 returned in deplorable humanitarian conditions as security improved and some 440,000 are rural inhabitants still displaced within rural areas and in the DRC and Gabon.
  • Neighboring countries include the Central African Republic (North), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (East), Angola (South), Gabon (West) and Cameroon (Northwest).

WHAT IS OUR COMMON HUMANITARIAN ACTION PLAN?

  • To (a) increase access and deliver emergency assistance to affected populations and IDPs in rural areas and towns; (b) assist initial reintegration of returning populations; (c) protect displaced and returnees; (d) negotiate access to previously inaccessible populations in need; (e) retain capacity to establish alternative logistical arrangements for the delivery of humanitarian aid in response to dramatic changes in the environment.

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CONSTRAINTS WE FACE?

  • Access: while gradually increasing as fighting reduces skirmishes continue to threaten the establishment of much needed overland routes for humanitarian operations.
  • Funding: lack of resources severely hindering capacity to respond to arising needs.

WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACHIEVE?

  • Reduce malnutrition levels and encourage the resumption of food production.
  • Increase access to health care and primary education. Establish mechanisms to prevent cholera, monitor polio and treat potable water.
  • Adopt measures to enhance post-traumatic treatment of victims of sexual abuses and other forms of violence.
  • Discourage the recruitment of children as combatants and encourage the demobilization of those already inducted.
  • Support populations attempting to resume productive life in their communities of origin.

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DO NOT GET THE RESOURCES?

  • Some 500,000 IDPs would be deprived of access to supplementary and therapeutic feeding. An estimated 70 % of returning population suffer from acute and severe malnutrition. In addition, some 90,000 war affected families in rural areas would be deprived of access to seeds and tools.
  • Relief agencies would be unable to extend much needed immunization activities for IDPs and returnees, thus increasing the threat of epidemics.
  • The needs of the most vulnerable among the returning populations, including women victims of violence and former child combatants, would not be addressed threatening the stability in their communities upon return.
  • The 120 villages willing to integrate Rwandan refugees would be deprived of assistance to facilitate the integration of the later, which would include the rehabilitation of basic infrastructure and access to seeds and tools.

Please find more information on the Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeals for 2000 at http://www.reliefweb.int/appeals