New UN emergency fund could soon ease the country's humanitarian crisis

Hundreds of thousands of people displaced by fighting in central Katanga, as well as in other parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could soon benefit from a new fund for humanitarian action launched on 9 March to help the organisation react faster to such crises, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan told reporters on Tuesday. "The way we operate today, when we need the money for those crises, we pass the begging bowl around and wait for governments to respond. But if you have the funds, that you can start using straightaway, you may be able to save more lives and get help faster to people in need," he told a reporter in Kinshasa, asking him about the growing humanitarian crisis in Katanga in the wake of fighting between the army and militia groups known as the Mayi-Mayi. "On this issue, I'm extremely happy that as part of the UN reform, the member states set up a new humanitarian fund for humanitarian action that will allow us sometimes to move much faster than we are able to do traditionally." The fund, known as Central Emergency Response Fund, is expected to total US $500 million. Its purpose is "to bring immediate relief in natural and man-made disasters and save thousands of lives that would otherwise be lost to delay", UN News reported. As of Wednesday, contributions to the fund totaled $254 million. The fund will "ensure swifter responses to humanitarian emergencies, with adequate funds made available within three to four days as opposed to up to four months or more under current arrangements", UN News said. According to the NGO OXFAM, close to four million people have died since 1998, primarily due to easily preventable diseases such as malaria and diarrhoea. "A child born in DRC has one in five chance of dying before the age of five," OXFAM said. The humanitarian situation in the Congo makes it particularly deserving of emergency assistance, Annan said. "If you look at the figures and the extent of the suffering cumulatively, you probably have a Tsunami in this country every six months, in terms of dead and dying," he said. "Of course, the Congolese would also have to work with us, in assuring that there is a security in areas that will allow access to those in need," he added. Annan is in DRC for three days on the last leg of an African tour during which he visited South Africa, Madagascar, and the Republic of Congo.