(Geneva, 13 April 2018) International donors today announced US$528 million to support the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian aid to millions of people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The announcements were made at a humanitarian conference in Geneva co-chaired by the United Nations, the European Union and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

“The generosity of donors will allow the United Nations and humanitarian agencies, working alongside the Government and Congolese institutions, to save more lives and protect more women, girls, boys and men,” said Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock. He emphasized that the Government of the DRC is providing leadership on the crisis response while the UN is supporting the Government in playing that key role for its people.

The humanitarian conference was attended by 54 countries in addition to numerous regional organizations, UN agencies and non-governmental organizations. Announcements were made by 22 UN Member States and organizations for humanitarian action in DRC in 2018.

“The humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is and will remain urgent. We must not abandon the displaced persons and others affected by this forgotten crisis. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all parties that have committed themselves to helping the Congolese people, to providing humanitarian relief, and to exploring solutions to the challenges that the Democratic Republic of the Congo faces,” said Sigrid Kaag, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands.

”Today, we stand united with the people of the DRC,” said Christos Stylianides, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management. ”For too long have humanitarian needs persisted in the country, and the situation keeps worsening. We are determined to assist the most vulnerable people of the DRC and give them hope. In order to fulfil our humanitarian mission and save lives on the ground, we need unhindered and continuous humanitarian access to all regions, as well as protection for humanitarian workers.”

The humanitarian situation in the DRC has deteriorated over the last year. Already one of the world’s largest and most complex humanitarian emergencies, renewed conflict has driven up food insecurity by approximately 30 percent since 2017 - some 7.7 million people are now food insecure and over 2 million children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

The UN and partners require $1.68 billion to provide life-saving and protection assistance to 10.5 million people in the country this year. Support for the DRC Humanitarian Response Plan will ensure an evidence-based, prioritized, coordinated and principled humanitarian response. The UN is working in close partnership with the Government of the DRC and discussing a follow-up event to today’s conference at a time and a place convenient to the Government.

The complete list of announcements is online here: https://bit.ly/2qu6E4O

Jens Laerke, UN OCHA, +4179 472 9750 laerke@un.org,

Antje Knorr, European Union, +4178 620 29 50, Antje.Knorr@eeas.europa.eu,

Chris Bakker, The Netherlands, +31652503745, Chris.Bakker@minbuza.nl