Lack of money hinders UN effort at post-war recovery

A lack of funding has meant missed opportunities in the UN's drive to aid the Republic of Congo to recover from a devastating decade-long civil war, even though successes have been recorded in some areas of activity, the UN Country Team in the ROC reported in its 2001 mid-term review for the country. As of 1 August, according to the review, 34.4 percent of the requirements outlined in its plan had been funded. While in rehabilitated schools attendance increases have averaged 30 percent, 1,714 schools still need remodeling and re-equipment. The Country Team also said it had distributed "the totality of its available stock of condoms" and that due to the lack of money many planned AIDS awareness activities had not been implemented. A recent UN-commissioned study on AIDS in the country put the HIV prevalence rate at 14 percent in some localities and the cash crunch for activities in this area may have "devastating impacts". In addition, the shortage of funds hinders the UN's capability to respond rapidly and effectively in emergencies. This year, it said, UN agencies in the ROC were able to deliver food when epidemics arose or when IDPs emerged from the forest after years of hiding. "Yet, without sufficient resources they are not currently in a position to respond to new emergencies," the Country Team reported. Given these limitations, UN agencies have been working together and with NGOs "to multiply the impact of the limited resources at their disposal". It said that every month new joint actions are identified and implemented. The FAO and UNDP have teamed up to help war-affected agricultural communities rebound from war; UNICEF and the UN Population Fund have rehabilitated 40 primary schools and 75 health centres, with WFP food for work programmes; FAO provided seeds and tools for distribution by the UNHCR to 5,000 families, including refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In addition, UNESCO and UNDP organised a soccer tournament in Brazzaville as a message of peace to over 30,000 youth and women. While under-funded, the UN reported, it had achieved significant successes: these include the country-wide polio eradication campaign, the reintegration and vocational training of at least 7,000 ex-combatants and the collection of at least 10,000 weapons, as well as the provision of non-food aid to 87,000 refugees from the DRC. "The 10 UN agencies active in ROC are convinced that additional funding will allow them to extend activities further in the rural areas," it reported.