Brussels, 19/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - Given the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the EU is increasing its emergency humanitarian aid by €10 million to meet the ever growing needs of the vulnerable civilian populations there, the European Commission announced on Friday 19 July.
This funding from the budget of ECHO (the Commission's humanitarian aid service) is intended to provide relief for some 2.5 million victims of one of today's most complex and protracted humanitarian crises. That crisis is growing worse especially in the eastern part of the country (Kivu) where fighting is resuming between government forces and M23 rebels, with all the attendant human rights violations - rape, abductions, recruitment of child soldiers, etc.
“The world needs to wake up and act now against the unspeakable barbarity of sexual and gender-based violence in Eastern Congo”, said Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, who went on to add: “During my last visit to the Kivu, I met survivors of sexual violence with Dr Denis Mukwege, the founder and director of the EC-funded Panzi hospital. Their fortitude in the face of so much suffering is a lesson in human dignity. I call on all those who have influence in Eastern Congo to do their utmost to end this barbaric violence”.
The additional aid will finance the distribution of essential food and survival items as well as provide protection, shelter, health, water, hygiene and sanitation. The crisis in DRC has forced over 2.7 million people (including one million inhabitants for the year 2012 alone) to flee in order to escape the fighting. The neighbouring African countries have taken in over 440,000 refugees. The additional aid brings to €71 million the amount that has been allotted by the Commission in 2013 to humanitarian work in favour of the needy populations of the African Great Lake Region. (AN/transl.jl)