EU humanitarian aid to Congo (DRC)

The European Commission has approved a €4 million humanitarian aid package to support food and nutrition programmes for vulnerable groups affected by the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The funds will contribute to the World Food Programme Emergency Operation launched in June in response to the deterioration of the situation in Eastern Congo. This decision is managed by the Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office, which comes under the supervision of Commissioner Poul Nielson.

Despite successful peace negotiations that resulted in a transition government in June, localised conflict has intensified in the eastern parts of the DRC, with serious humanitarian consequences. Fighting and looting have prompted mass population displacement. People that have fled their homes suffer high malnutrition and mortality rates.

This latest funding decision focuses on providing food and nutritional support for about 500,000 of the most vulnerable people. New supplementary feeding centres will be created and food parcels will be distributed to the families of malnourished children and other vulnerable groups.

ECHO has been heavily engaged in the DRC for several years, particularly since the outbreak of the second civil war in 1998. Including this latest decision, ECHO has contributed more than €162 million to the victims of the crisis since 1997.


For further information please see:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo/field/drc/crisis_en.htm

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