Media Releases > Oxfam Ireland Press Release Media Releases > Oxfam Ireland Press ReleaseMassive humanitarian funding shortfall in DRC as 100,000 die of neglect in just 3 months, only the Irish Government has pledged more than its fair share.
Tchomya camp - a mother drinks clean
water from an Oxfam installed water supply.
Oxfam has installed 14 handpumps in
Tchomya and Kasenyi16 May 2006
The humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo is being neglected by rich countries, warned aid agency Oxfam Ireland today. Donors have committed only $94m (14%) of the $682m needed for the Humanitarian Action Plan (HAP) developed by the UN, Red Cross and aid agencies, since the appeal was launched 13th February. In that three-month period, an estimated 100,000 people have died from conflicted related causes.
The warning comes as the clock ticks down towards the country's first multi-party elections in 40 years, currently due to be held on 30th July.
Oxfam believes rich countries must give their fair share of the appeal total, and yet no major donors have given enough:
Oxfam country manager for DRC, Juliette Prodhan said: "Donors have rightly invested over $450m in support of the elections, but voting alone won't cure the problems in DRC. Significant humanitarian assistance is urgently needed in order to save lives. Rich country governments have a moral obligation to act when 1,200 people are dying every day from conflict-related causes. To their shame Italy, Germany and France have committed nothing or almost nothing to the appeal, whilst the contributions of countries like the US and Japan remain miniscule compared with the size of their economies."
Oxfam is also calling on those countries that traditionally give above their fair share to commit funds rapidly. Countries like Finland, Sweden and Canada usually set the example, but their response to this latest plan is disappointing. Donors that have not given to DRC in the past, like New Zealand, Australia and Spain, also need to contribute if the scale of need is to be met.
Furthermore, Oxfam calls upon those countries that have committed humanitarian funds to make them available for project implementation as soon as possible.
The Democratic Republic of Congo remains one of the world's forgotten disaster zones with an estimated 3.9m people that have died as a result of the conflict in the past 8 years. The HAP has raised just $9.40 for every person in need for the next year, against $550 per person that was raised in the UN's Tsunami flash appeal in 2005.
"The stark reality is that humanitarian needs in DRC are receiving one sixtieth of what was contributed to alleviate suffering after the 2004 tsunami. Every penny that went to tsunami relief was appropriate given the scale of the disaster, but it goes to show just how much DRC is being neglected," added Prodhan.
Oxfam Ireland is supporting projects in the eastern part of the country providing public health education, clean water and sanitation facilities to displaced camps and the local populations. A new programme has just started on the shores of Lake Albert aimed at reducing the annual problem of cholera amongst the fishing communities.
Oxfam has worked in the DRC since the 1960s providing emergency relief including water, sanitation and public health to 300,000 people.
Contact
For further information or to arrange interview with the cyclists upon their return please contact
Oxfam Ireland 's Media Executive Paul Dunphy on 00353 1 6040706
or email paul.dunphy [at] oxfamireland.org.
Oxfam Ireland is a member of Oxfam International, a confederation of 13 Oxfam's worldwide. www.oxfamireland.org