UN official arrives in DR Congo to spotlight humanitarian crisis

A top-level United Nations humanitarian official started a five day visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today, “aiming to draw international attention to one of the world’s most serious and chronic humanitarian crises.”

Catherine Bragg, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator will discuss ways to protect civilians, prevent and respond to sexual violence, and ensure humanitarian access to people in conflict areas, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

It is estimated that almost 1.7 million people are internally displaced in the DRC due to armed violence, the agency said.

“The country is affected by a complex humanitarian crisis with intertwined causes and dynamics within a background of widespread poverty, chronic instability and serious abuses against civilians,” OCHA said.

“This crisis receives far less attention than it deserves. We call on the Government to step up its relief efforts. We also urge donors and the rest of the international community to continue supporting humanitarian response, notably in the north-east, to alleviate the suffering of thousands, while working with the Government to promote peace and stabilization,” said Ms. Bragg.

Ms. Bragg is scheduled to travel to to two of the country’s regions most affected by conflict – the provinces of North Kivu and Orientale – to meet local officials, local communities, UN personnel, humanitarian organizations and international partners on the ground, OCHA said.

Her visit to those provinces follows a similar trip in March by Valerie Amos, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs.