DRCongo - OFDA-01: 21-Jan-98
DRCongo - OFDA-01: 21-Jan-98
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
REPUBLIC OF CONGO - Complex Emergency
Fact Sheet #1, Fiscal Year (FY) 1998 January 21, 1998
Background: In June 1997, fighting broke out in the Republic of Congo
between forces loyal to the elected government of President Pascal
Lissouba and the forces of former president Denis Sassou Nguesso. The
violence began when Lissouba's troops surrounded Nguesso's residence in an
effort to crack down on private militias before a presidential election
scheduled for July 27. Regional and international efforts at mediation
failed to result in a settlement, and on October 14, Nguesso's forces
succeeded in overthrowing the Lissouba government and seizing control of
the country. Much of the fighting and ensuing destruction was
concentrated in the capital city Brazzaville, home to between 800,000 and
one million of Congo's total population of 2.6 million.
Numbers Affected: Up to 10,000 people died in Congo as a result of the
civil war, according to ICRC. In Brazzaville, fighting in and around the
city displaced at least 600,000 people, reducing Brazzaville's population
to below 200,000. Some 200,000 people fled to Pointe Noire, Congo's
second largest city, which was largely unaffected by the fighting. More
than 40,000 people crossed the Congo River into the Democratic Republic of
the Congo. According to UNICEF, 65% of the displaced persons were women
and children. The UN reported that in Brazzaville, some 5,000 homes were
destroyed and another 45,000 damaged.
Current Situation: The greatest problems facing Brazzaville stem from
widespread population displacement and destruction to homes and
infrastructure. A BHR/OFDA assessment team, which visited Brazzaville in
November 1997, reported that the city's water distribution had fallen by
80% because of extensive damage to the water system and because the
largest of the city's two water plants was not operating. The assessment
team also reported that water sources frequently shallow wells dug by the
Congo River were threatened by contamination. The team found that the
health risk was exacerbated by the diminished capacity of Brazzaville's
clinic system, which was seriously disrupted both by property damage and
sharply reduced staffing levels. Adding to the problem was the fact that
vaccination coverage had steadily declined prior to the war and that only
37 percent of the population had access to basic health care, according to
UNICEF. The assessment team found that food shortages, largely caused by
extensive damage to the country's transportation infrastructure, had
driven food prices up by 25% to 300%. However, health organizations
working in Congo reported that acute malnutrition did not appear to be a
major problem. The assessment team warned that the problems facing
Brazzaville were likely to get worse as more of the population returned.
According to a January 1998 report, 70% of the city's population has
returned.
There is a large presence of relief organizations in Brazzaville.
Although relief organizations have been operating freely, and several
organizations were able to maintain staff in Brazzaville throughout the
war, they face continued danger, as was made clear by two serious security
incidents, one fatal, in November and December 1997. UN agencies have
assumed responsibility for coordinating emergency needs in each sector.
U.S. Government (USG) Assistance: BHR/OFDA responded to the crisis in the
Republic of Congo under the October 27 disaster declaration issued by U.S.
Ambassador Aubrey Hooks. BHR/OFDA has focused its efforts on the city of
Brazzaville and the surrounding area. Between November 4 and November 18,
1997, BHR/OFDA deployed an assessment team to report on conditions in
Brazzaville and recommend options to the USG. Based on the team's
findings, BHR/OFDA has awarded four grants to address Brazzaville's most
pressing short-term emergency needs:
UNICEF $500,000 for an emergency measles campaign, medical equipment and
supplies to re-establish basic health care, and nutritional assistance for
children.
MERLIN $208,093 to implement an emergency measles vaccination campaign in
coordination with UNICEF, and to conduct a risk awareness program to
benefit some 250,000 children in Brazzaville.
CRS $443,610 to assist in the initial restoration of public health and
clinic services to benefit up to 300,000 internally displaced persons
(IDPs), and to provide for the minimal shelter needs of approximately
120,000 IDPs.
IRC $207,714 to improve sanitary conditions and the water supply for
approximately 10,000 returning families in Talangai and surrounding
districts of Brazzaville.
BHR/OFDA Humanitarian Assistance FY 1998 . . . . . . . . $1,359,417
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