UN official presents humanitarian plan of action

The UN’s deputy emergency relief coordinator Martin Griffiths is today in Kinshasa presenting needs and priorities for reinforcing UN humanitarian operations in affected areas of the DRC including the rebel-held east. Humanitarian needs are “thought to be growing rapidly, further fuelled by the dramatic economic decline of the country and the displacement (both temporary and prolonged) of large groups of the population”, the report states. The nutritional situation in Kinshasa “continues to deteriorate”, according to the latest WFP weekly emergency report (see http://www.wfp.org). The food, medical and clean water needs of displaced people are among the humanitarian priorities. The plan of action is to be executed within the principles and “rules of engagement” devised at a November meeting in Nairobi which stress “impartiality and transparency” in the delivery of humanitarian aid. The UN expects both sides to “accept and adhere to” the principles and rules, a UN official told IRIN. A “major impediment” to the resumption of full-scale operations, ne continued, is the need for the return of looted humanitarian assets. Another UN official said he remained “very, very much concerned” about the failure of the rebel authorities to return dozens of UN cars and trucks looted at the outset of the rebellion.