By Prudence Arobani
New York – The humanitarian community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Congolese authorities on Friday launched an appeal for 748 million dollars to assist 6.7 million people in 2017.
This represents the first year of a new three-year action plan in the DRC, where civilians are affected by one of the world’s most acute and protracted humanitarian crises, according to Mr Farhan Haq, the Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General.
Haq said the 2017 appeal targets over 2.1 million internally displaced people, 500,000 children less than five years old suffering from acute malnutrition, and hundreds of thousands threatened by diseases and epidemics.
“With worsening levels of conflict over the past year, humanitarian actors project that the needs are likely to increase even further in the coming months,” he said.
He also said that humanitarian partners launched a Humanitarian Response Plan in Mali, with 293 million dollars needed to provide assistance to 1.4 million people.
“The plan focuses on regions affected by conflict in northern and central parts of the country,” he said.
He quoted the Humanitarian Coordinator for Mali, Mbarange Gasarabwe, as saying that the prevailing insecurity in certain areas continues to limit people’s access to basic services.
“Despite the progress made since the start of the crisis, women, men and children remain vulnerable.
“Without support, they will not be able to meet their basic needs and recover,” Gasarabwe said.
The spokesperson also said that the Government of Kenya had declared the current drought affecting more than 23 counties in the country a national disaster.
“A preliminary assessment indicates that the number of food insecure across Kenya has doubled from 1.3 million in August 2016 to 2.7 million — with a rainfall deficit of up to 75 per cent in north-western and coastal areas.
“The United Nations stands ready to support the Government in its assistance to affected communities,” he said.
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