UN assists 8,000 displaced persons in the Republic of Congo

The United Nations is assisting about 8,000 persons on the outskirts of Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, who were displaced last month by lawless conditions in the Pool Region, the United Nations Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement today.

Continuing instability in that region had limited the access of humanitarian personnel to the area for the past six months, OCHA said.

Many of the internally-displaced persons arrived in poor condition at seven different sites where they are sheltered while UN officials have begun to monitor their health conditions for signs of contagious diseases.

UN agencies have also distributed water purification supplies, medicines, and food as well as buckets, blankets, mosquito netting and soap to nearly 1,200 households.

While the UN is providing technical assistance for building latrines it lacks the bladders, pumps and tanks to ensure that the internally-displaced persons have enough clean water, OCHA said, adding that it has begun to identify alternative sites with adequate shelter and water as the present shelters have reached their capacities.