The year 2003 was a very hopeful year for the people of the DRC as they saw the creation of a transitional government with all parties to the conflict being included. Acceptance of entry visas issued in Kinshasa by the authorities in the eastern DRC was a sign of good things to come although the air of mistrust is still strong, especially in the two Kivus. The UN also strengthened their presence in the eastern part of the country where the conflict has been most intense over the years. This allowed access to some of the remote areas where previously people could not be reached with humanitarian assistance due to the insecurity that had prevailed. The new development also opens a window of opportunity for recovery and rehabilitation activities in the secure areas of the country.

However, despite the positive political developments that have taken place in the last year, most areas in the eastern DRC remain highly insecure with a high rate of human rights abuses by various fighting factions and militias. There is total break down of law and order and the power of the gun still rules. Looting, murder and rape of women are daily occurrences especially in the eastern part of the country. Health and education facilities hardly exist for the majority of the population leading to very high mortality rates from treatable diseases and a high level of illiteracy among the young population.

The programs in this appeal will try to address some of the pressing issues facing the people of the eastern DRC through providing assistance to sexually abused women, shelter, water and sanitation, relief and rehabilitation assistance to the internally displaced people and returnees, educational facilities for children, and also capacity building for church humanitarian workers.

The ACT implementing members working in the Eastern DRC are requesting US$ 1,517,566 for humanitarian activities in the provinces of North and South Kivu, and Maniema. The ACT Co-ordinating Office in Geneva is also requesting USD10,000 to cover costs for communications and field monitoring trips to the DRC during the year.

Project Completion Date:

CAID - 31 January 2005

ECC S Kivu - 31 January 2005

ECC N Kivu - 31 January 2005

BOAD - 31 January 2005

EELC Kivu & Maniema - 31 January 2005

Signed by:
John Nduna, ACT Acting Director

For full details of proposals and budgets, please click below to download a PDF file of the entire Appeal.

DRC - Relief & Rehabilitation - AFDC41 (file size: 207 Kb)

To view a PDF file, you need the Acrobat Reader software, which can be downloaded free of charge from:

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/acrwin.html