France provides €80,000 in aid of Pool IDPs

France has provided €80,000 in emergency aid to internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the Pool region of southern Republic of Congo, Francois Ibara, the head of communications at the Congolese Foreign Ministry, told IRIN on Tuesday. He said the funds would be used to buy materials for the building of provisional shelters, the installation of sanitation facilities, and the reconstruction of houses, among other needs. The French contribution comes in response to an appeal from the Congolese government for aid of Pool IDPs, and follows other donations, including US $78,000 from the US and over $25,000 from China. The European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office, ECHO, has also been providing aid through such partners as the International Committee for the Red Cross, and international NGOs Medecins Sans Frontieres, International Rescue Committee and Alisei. According to humanitarian organisations' estimates, some 12,000 IDPs are living in displaced sites in and around the capital, Brazzaville, while another 40,000 are living with host families. Thousands of others are living in the neighbouring regions of Plateaux, Bouenza, Niari, Lekoumou and Kouilou. In late August, Congolese Minister of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Action Emilienne Raoul announced that 15 September had been set as the government's new target date for returning thousands of Pool IDPs to their homes, revising its earlier target of 31 July. The improved situation in Pool follows a peace agreement signed on 17 March between the government and "Ninja" rebels of Rev Frederic Bitsangou, alias Pasteur Ntoumi, which ended a year of hostilities. Tens of thousands of people fled the region, while fighting trapped many more. Those who escaped were usually able to receive relief support, but humanitarian access to the vast majority left behind in Pool has been sporadic if not impossible.