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UNHCR appeals for $40.4 million as fighting drives thousands from their homes in eastern DRC
Summary
The UN said partners launched a $40.4 million appeal to assist 275,000 internally displaced people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and to prepare for a possible influx of refugees to neighboring countries.
The United Nations said its refugee agency, UNHCR, launched an appeal for $40,400,000 to help tens of thousands displaced by renewed fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The UN spokesperson said the appeal aims to “deliver protection and assistance to 275,000 internally displaced people in South Kivu, North Kivu, Maniema and Tanganyika provinces as well as to support the potential influx of 258,000 refugees and asylum seekers and returnees in neighboring countries, including Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia.”
The nut graf: Humanitarian partners described needs for shelter, food, latrines and relocation to reduce overcrowding at arrival sites. The appeal is framed both to assist people displaced inside the DRC and to support neighboring countries expecting refugee arrivals.
Aid workers are reportedly distributing warm meals and water to new arrivals, but the spokesperson warned that ongoing clashes are hindering access in some areas. “Humanitarian partners have also raised concerns that ongoing clashes in Uvira are hindering access, including movements of ambulances, while hospitals report daily casualties among civilians,” the spokesperson said. The briefing also said fighting in Kalehe territory forced more than 50,000 people to flee over the past week, many toward Burundi.
The spokesperson added that since February more than 40,000 Congolese nationals had arrived in Burundi seeking protection, describing the arrivals as including men, women and children.
Ending: The UN appealed broadly to donors to fund the operation and to support host countries; the spokesperson did not give a donor response or a funding timeline in the briefing.
