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The DEC consists of: Action Aid, British Red Cross, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Help the Aged, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund, World Vision, as well as CAFOD.
It’s easy to donate by calling the DEC on 0370 60 60 90 or donate at any high street bank or post office, or follow this link: dec.org.uk
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| Democratic Republic of Congo Crisis Appeal |
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On 20th November CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) together with other leading UK aid agencies launched an appeal for urgently needed funds to help ease the increasingly desperate plight of people affected by the recent upsurge of violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Launching the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Congo (DR) Crisis Appeal, chief executive Brendan Gormley said while aid was getting through to those affected, a massive scale-up was required.
More than 250,000 people have been forced to flee their homes to escape the fighting in recent weeks, adding to more than one million already displaced as a result of the conflict.
Agencies that make up the DEC are already delivering life-saving food, water, shelter and emergency medical supplies to those affected, but the scale of the crisis means much more is needed.
Brendan Gormley said, “The start of the rainy season has meant people living in already desperate conditions are becoming ever more vulnerable.” “Our member agencies are already reaching several hundred thousand people, but the need is overwhelming and increasing. We have got to do more and now, more than ever, we need the UK public to show their generosity.”
DEC member agency CAFOD has been working in DR Congo since 1995 on emergency aid, development and long-term peace-building programmes.
“Schools and churches arcoss the West Country have been very moved by the news reports from the area and are already showing how willing they are to support the people of DR Congo.”
Aid workers on the ground are reporting:
Many people displaced for the second, third or even fourth time by conflict. Thousands of children living in spontaneous settlement camps, where they are at increased risk of being physically and mentally abused.
World Vision estimate there are around 5,500 former child soldiers in the camps, who are vulnerable to being re-recruited by the warring militias. Extremely high levels of rape and gender-based violence, with poor security to protect girls and women in the camps. In the town of Kanyabayonga, Oxfam reported a ten fold increase in the number of rapes reported at local hospitals and clinics between May and the beginning of November.
A significant increase in child malnourishment. Before the latest upsurge in violence, nutrition experts were admitting one or two malnourished children per day at the World Vision nutrition centre in Rwanguba, east of Rutshuru. Since fighting devastated the rebel-held territory near Rutshuru, between eight and ten children have been arriving every day.
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Tony Vassallo, CAFOD Diocesan Manager for Clifton, said, “A humanitarian disaster is unfolding in front of the eyes of CAFOD and its partners in DR Congo. A quarter of a million people have fled their homes due to fighting and these people are now living in increasingly desperate conditions. CAFOD is helping to get basic aid to thousands of homeless people and we will continue that work with added support from the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal.
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