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Humanitarian aid for Congo
07/02/2009
Urgent humanitarian aid has been approved for three key aid agencies working in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) it was announced today.
The Scottish Government has made emergency funding of £200,000 available from its International Development Fund in a bid to ease the suffering of the people caught up in the country's ongoing conflict.
External Affairs Minister Linda Fabiani said:
"As a responsible nation it is our duty to provide support, where we can, to those affected by humanitarian disasters. That is why we are providing this emergency funding in support of the vital work being undertaken by Scottish charities on the ground in the DRC.
"While there has been little recent media coverage of the crisis in the DRC, there is an ongoing Disasters Emergency Committee appeal. It remains a desperate situation for the hundreds of thousands of people caught up in the conflict. Many people have been displaced and are living in makeshift camps with little or no facilities, clean water or food. This is a situation that needs immediate help to alleviate suffering and create greater security and stability for people in this region."
The Scottish Government is allocating £100,000 to Mercy Corps Scotland, and £50,000 each to CBM (formerly Christian Blind Mission) and Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF).
Mercy Corps will help provide water, sanitation and hygiene services in the effort to combat the spread of cholera and other diseases. CBM will address the specialist needs of those with disabilities, who are often neglected in humanitarian relief efforts. SCIAF will provide household commodities and medical kits, as well as working to address the issue of sexual violence, identifying those who have been subject to such abuse and providing counselling, support and medical care.
CBM Scottish Director David Christison said:
"CBM is delighted to receive support from the Scottish Government, which will allow us and our partners to improve the quality of life of the most vulnerable sections of society - people with and at risk of disability, and pregnant women and children affected by the conflict in the DRC."
SCIAF Chief Executive Paul Chitnis said:
"The situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to be very difficult for the civilian population. This money will be invaluable in helping SCIAF and its local partner to continue its life-saving work helping some of the many thousands of innocent people who have been displaced by the recent fighting.
"This money will be used to provide blankets, temporary shelters, cooking utensils and containers for water. It will also help to equip local health centres with medical supplies and provide support for women who have been subjected to rape and sexual violence."
"The Scottish public have already donated an incredible £85,900 to SCIAF's DR Congo Appeal which is already helping to make a real difference. This additional funding from the Scottish Government is vital in enabling our work on the ground in North Kivu to continue."