Over 200,000 to be fed in the DR Congo by UN agency’s largest aid convoy in years

Almost a quarter of a million of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees in remote areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are set to receive much-needed food aid, as the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today transports close to 600 metric tons to Katanga Province.

“This humanitarian aid train represents hope for more than 200,000 people who need food aid in Bukama, Manono and Malemba-Nkulu territories,” said Charles Vincent, WFP’s Country Director in the DRC.

A total of 587 metric tons of food aid left Lubumbashi in the southeast of the DRC earlier today, in what is believed to be the largest amount dispatched on a single train in years in the country, the agency said. It added that the same train and wagons will then head back to Lubumbashi and return several times, bringing another 1,663 tons of WFP food for the people of central Katanga Province.

On arrival in the river port of Bukama, 400 kilometres northeast of the capital of Katanga, the 15 railway wagons of food will be transferred to barges and trucks to continue the journey to the isolated areas.

The DRC is still recovering from years of war and unrest that have devastated its infrastructure and in many areas, insecurity and the problem of access complicate the timely delivery of food aid, WFP said, adding that for nearly a year, it has been an “enormous challenge” to get this assistance to the displaced people and returnees.

“In March, we had to resort to airdropping food in Katanga to stock vital supplies in various places. The transport cost was $1,200 per ton, but it would have been much lower, about $340, if we had been able to combine railways, road and water transport,” said Mr. Vincent. Out of 200,000 displaced people in Katanga, more than 135,000 have returned home so far this year.

The launch of the humanitarian aid train follows an agreement between the Congolese National Railways Company (SNCC) and WFP, helped by the creation of a logistics cluster, grouping several UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

WFP aims to provide more than 875,000 people throughout the DRC each month with 7,800 tons of food. But only 500,000 people are currently provided with rations – and these are less than full rations.

“We need to fight different battles in DRC,” said Mr. Vincent. “We must feed people who are cut off by insecurity, but also work to open up access to other remote areas, using local infrastructure to reach those needing food – faster and at a lower cost.”

Meanwhile, the top UN political officer arrived yesterday in the capital, Kinshasa, for a three-day visit to lend the world body’s support to the country’s ongoing democratic transition.

Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari met representatives of President Joseph Kabila and Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba, the two candidates in the run-off presidential election slated for 29 October.

He commended the Congolese people on their firm determination to see the democratic transition succeed, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in New York.

During his visit Mr. Gambari will meet officials from the Independent Electoral Commission, as well as members of the International Committee to Support the Transition. Tomorrow he is scheduled to travel to Equator Province for discussions with civil society and local political leaders.