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Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Disaster Assistance at a Glance
Recent Disaster Declarations:
Complex Emergency, Tanker Truck Explosion
OFDA Response:
Agriculture and Food Security, Economic Recovery and Market Systems, Health, Humanitarian Coordination and Information Management, Logistics and Relief Commodities, Nutrition, Protection, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
Latest OFDA Reports:
Humanitarian Assistance in Review, FY 2002-2011 (275kbPDF)
Complex Emergency Fact Sheet #1 (FY2012) (311kb PDF) and map (447kb PDF)
East and Central Africa Region Fact Sheet #1 (293kb PDF) and map (203kb PDF)
USAID/DCHA Success Story: Responding to Displacement in the DRC (208kb PDF)
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Most Recent Disaster Declaration:
Complex Emergency, 10-12-2011
Since 1998, conflict between armed opposition groups and government forces has resulted in high levels of insecurity and continuing population displacement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In 2011, due to the deteriorating security situation in South Kivu Province, thousands of individuals fled to Katanga and Maniema provinces, according to the U.N. and other humanitarian organizations. Meanwhile, in Orientale Province, violence attributed to the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) that increased significantly in the DRC in the first eight months of 2011 continues to impact populations in Haut-Uélé and Bas-Uélé districts. As of September 2011, the LRA had committed 202 attacks in the DRC, resulting in 95 deaths and 227 abductions, including 106 children, according to OCHA. Approximately 1.5 million people remained displaced in the DRC as of September 2011, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Poor infrastructure and attacks on non-governmental organization (NGO) and U.N. staff restrict humanitarian access and hinder response efforts. In addition, forced child recruitment into armed groups and reduced access to agricultural land and traditional markets have contributed to a deterioration of humanitarian conditions in the DRC.
On October 12, 2011, U.S. Ambassador James Entwistle re-declared a disaster in response to the ongoing humanitarian emergency in the DRC. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, USAID/OFDA provided more than $33.5 million to support agriculture and food security, economic recovery and market systems, humanitarian coordination and information management, health, nutrition, protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions, as well as the provision of logistics support and relief commodities.
Additional Disaster Declarations:
Complex Emergency, 10-13-2010
Since 1998, armed conflict has resulted in death and displacement in the DRC. Indirect consequences of fighting, such as disease, malnutrition, and neonatal- and pregnancy-related complications, continue to cause the majority of deaths. In FY 2010, U.N. and NGO staff reported an increased incidence of sexual and gender-based violence, as well as continued clashes between armed opposition groups and government forces that resulted in displacement, particularly in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Insecurity attributed to the LRA that increased significantly in the DRC in 2008 continues to impact populations in Haut-Uélé and Bas-Uélé districts, Orientale Province. As of October 2010, approximately 1.9 million people remained displaced countrywide, according to OCHA.
Forced child recruitment into armed groups, ongoing violence, and reduced access to agricultural land and traditional markets have contributed to a deterioration of humanitarian conditions in the DRC. Generalized insecurity as well as attacks on NGO and U.N. staff continue to restrict humanitarian access and hinder response efforts.
On October 13, 2010, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Samuel C. Laeuchli, a.i., redeclared a disaster in response to the ongoing humanitarian emergency in the DRC. In FY 2010, USAID/OFDA provided nearly $24 million to support agriculture and food security, economic recovery and market systems, health, humanitarian coordination and information management, nutrition, protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions, as well as the provision of logistics support and relief commodities.
Tanker Truck Explosion, 07-06-2010
On July 2, a tanker truck transporting fuel overturned in the town of Sange, approximately 33 km north of Uvira town in South Kivu Province. Initial reports indicated that the explosion resulted in more than 240 deaths, 195 injuries, and significant damage to at least 20 buildings. The U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Committee of the Red Cross initially responded to the incident but noted the need for additional medical supplies, including antibiotics, rehydration fluids, and bandages. On July 5, the Government of DRC requested international support for victims of the tanker truck explosion.
On July 6, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Samuel V. Brock declared a disaster due to the effects of the tanker truck explosion. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 through USAID/DRC to Catholic Relief Services for the purchase and delivery of necessary drugs and medical supplies to treat critical burn-related injuries, and to support patient transportation costs during the initial medical response.
For information on additional USAID disaster responses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, please see OFDA Annual Reports.
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