By Kylie M Tsudama
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa
BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo – The United States and France are providing a total of 3.57 million euros (5.13 million dollars) in aid for refugees in the Republic of Congo, according to diplomatic sources.
The US Embassy in Brazzaville announced a 4.6 million dollar (3.17 million euros) grant. The grant is supposed to help the World Food Program (WFP) “provide assistance to the refugees” who have fled from fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner visited Brazzaville and soon after announced that France will also be helping the WFP “in the distribution of food aid.”
“A grant of 200,000 euros will be paid to the Acted association (Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development), which will distribute kits consisting of tarpaulins, mosquito nets and cooking tools intended for 1,500 households (9,000 people),” said France’s statement.
Ethnic clashes broke out last November over farming and fishing rights.
According to the UN Refugee Agency it began registering the more than 100,000 refugees in order to give aid agencies a better idea of the numbers and needs of refugees.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman, Andrej Mahecic, said that many fled quickly and with little or nothing.
“The needs are great because most of these people are sleeping rough,” he said. “They occupy either public buildings in the Republic of Congo or public spaces. So, there is a greater need for organized accommodation for these people. Last week, we were calling for more sites to be allocated by authorities in the Republic of Congo for basically setting up organized refugee sites in that country.”
A team of 50 people will be handling the registration, which is taking place along the Oubangui River between the two Congos. This presents a challenge because many of the refugees are accessible only by boat.
“The majority of the refugees are in the areas that we can only reach by boats along the Oubangui River,” said Mahecic. “Now the water levels are gradually receding and we are running against time to complete the registration within the two months. That would be by the end of February before the dry season sets in and the rivers will become just to low to navigate.”
Meanwhile, the UNHCR is continuing to provide emergency assistance, including blankets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets and plastic sheeting for shelter, to the refugees.
Brazzaville fears that the humanitarian issue could turn into a major security issue because of the high numbers of people and weapons that have crossed the border.
For more information, please see:
AFP – US and France Provide 3.5 Million Euros for DR Congo Refugees – 15 January 2010
SOS Children – Refugees From Democratic Republic of Congo Swamp Aid Agencies – 15 January 2010
UNHCR – UNHCR Begins Registration of DRC Refugees in Northern Congo – 15 January 2010
VOA – UNHCR Begins Registration of 100,000 Refugees From DRC – 15 January 2010
Xinhua – Refugees Overwhelm Humanitarian Agencies in Republic of Congo – 15 January 2010
