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Caritas DR Congo Seeking Funds to Reach Out to Millions of Deprived Persons

Deprived persons receive farm inputs from Caritas DR Congo ASBL in the Diocese of Luiza

By Jude Atemanke

Kinshasa, 13 February, 2021 / 12:45 pm (ACI Africa).

The Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through its development and humanitarian arm Caritas Congo ASBL is seeking to raise close to two billion US Dollars to reach out to millions of deprived persons in the Central African nation.

“USD $1.98 billion will be needed to provide urgent assistance to 9.6 million vulnerable people in 2021 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),” the leadership of Caritas Congo ASBL says in a report issued February 9.

In the report, the leadership of Caritas Congo ASBL says, “In 2021, the population of the DRC will continue to face pressing humanitarian needs. With 5.2 million displaced persons, DRC currently hosts the second largest number of internally displaced persons in the world.”

“Armed conflict continues to have a very strong impact on an already highly vulnerable population, particularly in the east of the country, whose gains are still fragile. The humanitarian situation could worsen if assistance is not provided quickly to meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable,” Caritas leadership explains in the February 9 report.

The leadership of the development arm the Catholic Church further explains, “DRC continues to face a complex and deep humanitarian crisis. The number of people in need of assistance and protection is 19.6 million in 2021, up from 15.6 million at the beginning of 2020.”

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The Humanitarian Response Plan for 2021 “reflects the coordinated appeal of more than 400 operational partners, national NGOs, international NGOs and UN agencies, involved in the humanitarian response in DRC, in coordination with the efforts of the Congolese government,” the leadership says.

“By 2020, only 36% of the budget required for the humanitarian response plan has been mobilized,” it says in the February 9 report, adding in reference to 2021, “This year, more efforts will be needed to meet all urgent needs.”

“In 2021, we will still need the generous contribution of donors to the Humanitarian Response Plan to save lives, assist the most vulnerable people, ensure their access to basic social services and strengthen the protection of thousands of people affected by the crisis,” Caritas Congo adds.

Despite these challenges, Caritas Congo ASBL leadership acknowledges previous partnerships that have facilitated help saying, “The humanitarian community has been able to assist 6 million people thanks to the efforts of partners and the generosity of donors.”

Jude Atemanke

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.

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