The Federal Foreign Office has channelled 500,000 euro to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to fund emergency aid for refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DC Congo).

Since October the country’s Equateur Region along the Ubangi River bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been the scene of violent clashes between rival ethnic groups. Over 100 people have been killed and around 180,000 forced to leave their villages; around half the refugees have sought shelter in the neighbouring Republic of the Congo.

The money will be used to supply much needed items such as blankets, kitchen utensils and emergency accommodation. UNHCR will also organize refugee registration and protection and provide assistance for particularly vulnerable groups such as the victims of sexual violence.

The DC Congo has one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The situation is most critical in the east of the country, where according to UN figures over 2 million people are internally displaced. In 2009 the Federal Foreign Office made available 6.9 million euro in aid for this region.

For further information on the humanitarian assistance provided by the Federal Foreign Office please consult: