Christian Aid is responding to urgent humanitarian need in the Kasai Districtof the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with funding from the Scottish Government’s new Humanitarian Emergency Fund.
Christian Aid has worked in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the 1970s. But months of escalating violence in Kasai District is threatening families who had become healthier and more resilient.
Our partner, HelpAge, will be providing shelter kits and essential non-food items to reduce the risk of disease for internally displaced people and host families. Women and children are particularly vulnerable.
Christian Aid’s Head of Humanitarian Policy and Practice, Michael Mosselmans said, ‘Sadly, the enormous humanitarian needs in the Democratic Republic of Congo have not received the media and political attention from the international community that they so clearly deserve. Christian Aid therefore commends the release of much-needed funding for the emergency in the DRC from the Scottish Government.’
Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, the Scottish Government’s Minister for International Development and Europe said, ‘For decades, the DRC has struggled with one of the world’s most relentless emergencies. Escalating conflict within the country has resulted in 4.3 million people displaced from their homes, 9.9 million considered food insecure and 2 million malnourished children.
‘We want Scotland to be a good global citizen and our Humanitarian Emergency Fund aims to provide emergency life-saving aid to those in most need.’