Church grouping seeks US $1.52 million for humanitarian aid

Action by Churches Together, a worldwide network of churches and agencies coordinating emergency response to humanitarian need, said on Monday its implementing partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo needed US $1.52 million for activities in the provinces of Maniema, North and South Kivu. The NGO's coordinating office in Geneva said it was also seeking $10,000 in aid to cover the cost of communication and field monitoring visits to the DRC during 2004. These requests were contained in a 58-page "Relief and Rehabilitation Appeal" document published from Geneva, Switzerland. "This programmes in this appeal will try to address some of the pressing issues facing the people of the eastern DRC through providing assistance to sexually abused women, shelter, water and sanitation, relief and rehabilitation assistance to the internally displaced people and returnees, educational facilities for children, and also capacity building for church humanitarian workers," it said. The NGO said the establishment of a transitional government in 2003; the acceptance of entry visas issued in the capital, Kinshasa, by authorities in eastern DRC; and the increased UN presence in the conflict zone had allowed access to previously remote areas where people could not be reached due to insecurity. "The new development also opens a window of opportunity for recovery and rehabilitation activities in the secure areas of the country," it said. Despite these positive developments, it added, most of the east of the country remains "highly insecure" with high rates of human rights abuses by various fighting factions and militias. "There is a total break down of law and order and the power of the gun still rules," it said. Looting, murder and rape were a "daily occurrence", it added. Health and education facilities hardly exist for the majority of people, it said, "leading to very high mortality rates from treatable diseases and a high level of illiteracy among the young people."