EMBARGOED TO THE MEDIA UNTIL TUESDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2003, 1100 HRS NEW YORK TIME

Democratic Republic of the Congo

CONSOLIDATED APPEAL

SUMMARY

Catastrophe

The people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continue to suffer intensely from over five years of war that has left trails of death and destruction throughout the country.

People in eastern Congo are worst affected by the raging conflict. Some 3.3 million people have been killed there in five years.

Local warlords and breaches of peace deals mean that daily fighting, rape, looting, pillaging, and rampant impunity continue to plague the provinces of Ituri, North and South Kivu and Maniema.

Most Congolese lack basic social services. High morbidity, mortality, and HIV rates combined with low access to education and services, attest to a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.

Many women and girls are denied physical safety. Flagrant sexual violence as a weapon of war has shaken many communities.

Record numbers of people have fled their homes. Frequent militia attacks have raised the number of IDPs to unprecedented levels, hampered humanitarian access and increased vulnerability of isolated communities.

In 2003, however, the Congolese people also turned a positive page in their political history. The previous government and former rebel groups united to form a new transitional government.

Moreover, the Transitional Government established a new Ministry for Solidarity and Humanitarian Affairs as part of its strategy for consolidating peace and security.

Helping the vulnerable

For agencies working together in the DRC, the overall goal is to alleviate and prevent human suffering by:

• Preserving lives

• Reducing vulnerabilities in affected communities

• Maximizing co-ordination mechanisms to facilitate transition from relief to development

The 2004 strategy is founded on a rights-based approach, drawing on all legal instruments and ensuring all stakeholders fulfil their respective roles to provide protection and assistance to populations in need.

Agencies see this is an opportune time to cooperate with the Government to reinforce the country's social structures, judicial systems, schools, health system, water and sanitation services for the basic well-being of all.

Request

The CAP 2004 for the DRC requests US$ 187,094,868 to channel humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable.

Funding Requirements in 2004
(US$)