Brussels, 04/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission decided to allocate a further €5 million to assist the most vulnerable people affected by the recent conflict between the army and irregular militias in the south east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The humanitarian consequences of the conflict have been grave, with 300,000 people affected, says the Commission in a press release. In central Katanga, most villages and crops have been looted or destroyed. Half the population has fled, settling in camps, hiding in remote forests or seeking refuge in Zambia or Tanzania.
Since the start of the year, the Commission has provided €45 million to fund relief operations in Kataga and throughout the DRC. The additional €5 million will provide direct assistance to the most vulnerable - displaced people, returnees and host communities. It will fund the distribution of food, seeds, tools and household kits, the provision of basic healthcare with specialised care for victims of sexual violence, resettlement assistance in general and support for re-establishment of primary education. (hb)