Date Published: 26 September 2007

Emergency household kits airlifted to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

100,000 displaced people to benefit through UNICEF and partners

UNICEF DRC today took delivery of the first batch of some 290 tonnes of emergency household kits in Goma, capital of North Kivu province. The U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance provided the supplies to UNICEF. The kits - valued at over US$1.7 million - were airlifted from pre-positioned stocks in Dubai, New Delhi and Pisa and comprise of BP5 high protein biscuits and emergency shelter supplies including, blankets, cooking sets, and other essential household items for approximately 100,000 people.

Recent clashes between government troops and dissident forces in the Northern Kivu province, caused another surge in the mass displacement of around 150,000 people. In the past few weeks, UNICEF and its partner, Solidarités, have provided over 110,000 displaced people with basic survival kits from its emergency stocks. Referring to the USAID supplies, Julien Harneis, UNICEF Chief of Field Operations in Goma said,

“ This assistance is essential to continuing UNICEF efforts to meet basic livelihood needs of thousands of recently displaced children and families in this province.”

“ These USAID commodities will allow UNICEF to continue its relief operations for those in need in the DRC,” noted Jay Nash, USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance Director in the DRC.

Over 300,000 people have fled their homes since the end of last year, bringing the cumulative total to over 700,000 internally displaced in North Kivu alone. UNICEF remains concerned that children are the main victims of the insecurity in the province and are among the most vulnerable. UNICEF calls on all actors to protect the rights of children and to provide humanitarian actors with access to assist all displaced populations in North Kivu.

About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in 156 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

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