THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD FOOD

Published purpose

September 2013 -- Insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo escalated sharply in late 2012 and throughout 2013 due to a major increase in ethnic and resource-driven violence and banditry carried out by numerous armed groups, particularly in North and South Kivu provinces. This surge in violence has resulted in large-scale displacement of people from their homes, greater need to provide protection for people, and the destruction of assets, livelihoods, and basic infrastructure. People in affected areas are already extremely vulnerable due to chronic poverty and underdevelopment, poor governance, and very limited access to basic services. Cholera, measles, and malaria continue to take a toll across the country but are particularly prevalent in areas of high displacement. In addition, an estimated 6.35 million people across the country are acutely food insecure, or without access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food, including 1.2 million children who are malnourished. With the support of DFATD and other donors, the United Nations World Food Programme is providing life-saving food assistance to an estimated two million conflict-affected and displaced people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Activities include: distributing food assistance; providing nutrition support, such as supplementary and therapeutic feeding, for children under the age of five and for pregnant and lactating women; and providing support to help people earn a living through initiatives such as food-for-assets and food-for-training, whereby people receive food in exchange for working or participating in job training.