March 2016 – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to experience one of the most complex and protracted humanitarian crises in the world, with numerous, large-scale displacement and returnee movements, extremely low level basic services leading to large-scale cholera and measles epidemics, increasing refugee populations, and over 50 different armed groups that continue to terrorize communities, particularly in Orientale, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Katanga provinces. At least 1.6 million people in the DRC are internally displaced and a further 500,000 Congolese are living as refugees in neighbouring countries. Approximately 5 million people are food insecure, and acute malnutrition is estimated at 8 per cent. Protection concerns remain very high, with sexual violence and other abuses related to the violence plaguing vast numbers of civilians. Humanitarian needs could further increase if insecurity grows in relation to the deepening political crisis over elections planned for late this year. Overall, an estimated 7.5 million people in the DRC (roughly 9% of the total population) are expected to require humanitarian assistance in 2016 (an increase of 500,000 over this time last year). With GAC’s support, Action Against Hunger is providing assistance to address the urgent needs of up to 19,140 conflict-affected people in the province of North Kivu. This project focuses on increasing access to safe water and sanitation facilities, providing displaced people with basic household items, and preventing and treating cases of severe acute malnutrition. Project activities include: (1) constructing or rehabilitating ten water points; (2) constructing 200 latrines and providing hygiene supplies; (3) distributing non-food items and emergency shelter supplies to up to 750 households; (4) screening of up to 6,000 children under five years old for malnutrition; (5) treating up to 1,100 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition; and (6) providing medical and nutritional supplies, equipment, and staff training for six health structures.
