The United States announces $48 million in funding to help those affected by the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Acting Under-Secretary of State Victoria Nuland revealed the news during her visit to Kinshasa. This humanitarian aid, distributed by USAID, aims to meet the urgent needs of people affected by the crisis in the east of the country.
This new funding is in addition to continued U.S. support for the Congolese people, bringing total U.S. humanitarian assistance to nearly $486 million for the current fiscal year. These funds will be used to provide emergency food aid, health care, nutritional support, materials for shelters and drinking water, among others.
The crisis in the DRC has led to massive population displacements and limited access to basic services. More than 26 million people are expected to need humanitarian assistance in the DRC this year, and more than 1.3 million people have already been displaced in the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu since the beginning of the year.
This crisis has also led to an increase in cases of gender-based violence, described as “catastrophic” by the organization Doctors Without Borders. In this context, part of the funding will be devoted to protection activities, such as the prevention and response to gender-based violence, as well as psychosocial support services for the most vulnerable populations.
The United States is positioning itself as the main provider of humanitarian aid to the Congolese population. In a statement, the U.S. Embassy in the DRC says it stands in solidarity with conflict-affected populations and supports partners who are working tirelessly to save lives and alleviate suffering in one of the world’s most serious humanitarian emergencies. serious in the world.
This new financial aid therefore reinforces international efforts to meet the humanitarian needs in the DRC. Pending a lasting resolution to the conflict, these funds will help save lives and bring hope to suffering populations in the east of the country.