UN appeal calls for $17 million in humanitarian aid

The UN this week released details of a US $17 million consolidated inter-agency appeal for the year 2000 based on the likelihood of further stabilisation in the country and greater humanitarian access to the rural interior. While acknowledging that consideration will have to be given to the possibility of escalating hostilities, limited access and worsening rural-urban exodus, the UN’s intention is to “concentrate emergency assistance mainly on the four most affected regions” (Pool, Bouenza, Niari and Lekoumou) in the south, along with affected populations in Pointe-Noire and the Plateaux region, the appeal document states. Throughout 1999, only small areas of the country were reached by either international or national humanitarian agencies, it says. The appeal will be officially launched by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in Geneva on 23 November.