International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Appeals via the Canadian Red Cross Society (CRCS)

Published purpose

For several years, countries of the Great Lakes region have struggled with national and international conflicts and tensions. This is due to the presence of various armed groups with a reach that spans borders, as well as ongoing violence towards local populations that is endemic, particularly in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). There are still close to four million forcibly displaced persons in the Great Lakes region due to conflicts, including more than 800,000 refugees and close to three million internally displaced persons. CIDA's contribution is being used by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to pursue a variety of programs for people affected by conflict in the Great Lakes region of Africa, including in the DRC, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda. For example, the ICRC aims to undertake the following activities: rehabilitating water and sanitation systems for vulnerable groups; reunifying children separated from their parents; providing clothing and hygiene supplies to unaccompanied minors to meet the needs of children separated from their families; ensuring that displaced people and residents affected by armed conflict and violence have the means to survive and become self-sufficient; and, providing the wounded and sick with adequate basic health care. Activities target the most vulnerable populations, including those deprived of their freedom, civilians living in areas of conflict and civil unrest, and missing persons.