Statement on Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo

03/11/2008

HUMANITARIAN COALITION member agencies are working directly, or through partners, in the Democratic Republic of Congo as the crisis in the east of the country evolves. CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec and Save the Children Canada are all carefully monitoring the situation and preparing appropriate humanitarian relief activities.

In this complex and rapidly evolving crisis in eastern DRC, HUMANITARIAN COALITION member agencies are providing additional aid through existing programs, including urgently needed food, water and medical supplies. Though total estimates vary, hundreds of thousands of civilians are known to be directly affected by this emergency. Many civilians have been made homeless and some camps are being extended to take extra people.

Member agencies are carrying out assessments across the region and will help people either return to their homes or find temporary shelter until they judge it safe to return home. In the next few days the information from these assessments will determine the types of programs and scale of funding support that could be required to assist those people affected by this crisis.