§ Mr. ColmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment her Department has made of the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [110730]
§ Clare ShortReporting by the UN and other relief agencies continues to show the very serious humanitarian consequences for the civilian population of nearly five years of conflict in DRC and previous mismanagement. DFID is providing substantial help to efforts directed at reducing the suffering of civilians with urgent humanitarian needs in Congo. In the last financial year DFID provided over £11.5 million through the UN agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross (in response to their emergency appeals) and through international NGOs in the areas of health, nutrition, and refugees.
We stand ready to provide further humanitarian assistance to those most in need: so far this financial year we have already committed £1 million for nutrition and health care projects through international NGOs.