Ceasefire in the DRC: “As humanitarians, we welcome the ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It comes at a time when the level of need in the country is unprecedented,” says Tearfund.
“As humanitarians, we welcome the ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It comes at a time when the level of need in the country is unprecedented,” says Poppy Anguandia, Tearfund’s Country Director for the DRC.
Around 900 people have been killed and 2,000 injured in recent fighting in and around the eastern city of Goma since the ongoing conflict escalated last week. Many of those affected by the violence were people who had already been forced to flee their homes with only what they could carry on their backs. Since the conflict in DRC began, more than 20 million people have required humanitarian assistance.
Poppy Anguandia said, “People have been without basic necessities for over a week, facing chaos and violence, but slowly stability is returning although criminal acts continue. Power and water has been restored and markets have reopened.
“When the recent escalation in the conflict began, humanitarians were initially unable to give life-saving assistance as they had also been forced to shelter from the attacks. However, in the last few days humanitarian organisations have been able to re-start activities. Tearfund has been providing water distribution in camps, schools and churches and has set up multiple water chlorination points so people have easier access to clean water.”
Poppy Anguandia continued, “This is only the beginning. Our hope is to continue to scale up our current activities so that those in desperate need of help can be reached. All parties to the conflict must allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access so that life-saving aid can reach those who have escaped the violence. Most of all, we need a sustained peace that allows people to return to their homes and start to rebuild their lives.”
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Notes to editors
- Tearfund is a Christian charity that partners with churches in more than 50 of the world’s poorest countries. We tackle poverty through sustainable development, responding to disasters and challenging injustice. We believe an end to extreme poverty is possible. Tearfund is also a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee. For more information about the work of Tearfund, please visit www.tearfund.org.
