Vatican City, 8 August 2005 - Caritas Internationalis has launched a new appeal for nearly 1,225,000 USD to assist post-conflict communities at risk in the Republic of Congo's Pool region.
For more than a decade, residents in Pool, southwest of the capital, Brazzaville, have been caught in the middle of sporadic and intense fighting between government forces and a rebel army. Successive conflicts in 1997, in 1998-1999, and again in 2002-2003 forced tens of thousands from their homes. Many sought refuge in more remote villages or makeshift shelters near their fields, while others headed for other regions or cities. The United Nations estimated that 30,000-40,000 of the displaced were in Brazzaville alone.
A peace agreement was signed in 2003 to end the crisis in Pool. However, Caritas Congo reports that the agreement has done little to improve the lives of the war-torn people, who have endured years of hardship and misery. Furthermore, insecurity still exists. In July 2004, Caritas Congo, Caritas Brazzaville, and Caritas Kinkala (the diocesan Caritas in Pool), with support from Caritas members, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Caritas France (Secours Catholique), carried out an evaluation of the situation in six districts of Pool. A total of 865 households in 26 villages were surveyed, with the results published in a report entitled, "Post-Conflict Communities at Risk: The Continuing Crisis in Congo's Department of Pool".
According to Caritas Congo, the need for aid and assistance in Pool is great. Those returning to their communities are confronted with widespread devastation; homes, schools, health centres, and markets are in ruins, while roads are overgrown due to years of neglect. Food insecurity is a major threat as seed stocks are low and many households have not had a harvest since their return. Access to clean drinking water and sanitation is limited, and schools are in poor condition, desperately understaffed, and lacking in basic materials.
The new programme seeks to assist the displaced in getting back on their feet and resuming their normal lives. The programme aims to reach around 83,100 families in Pool. Families, whose homes were partially damaged or completely destroyed, will receive building materials. Around 5,000 women will be provided with essential non-food items (kitchen utensils and tools) to facilitate daily household activities.
Attention will also be given to reviving economic activities. Seeds and tools will be provided to families to help jumpstart agricultural production not only for household consumption, but for market sale, and focus will be on improving household seed banks. Plans are under way to rehabilitate roads so that people will have access to humanitarian assistance and markets. Caritas Congo and its partners also plan to support families working in handicraft professions.
Caritas Internationalis is a confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development, and social service organisations present in 200 countries and territories.
For more information, contact:
Lynn Yuill, Head of CI Communications Department
Tel: (+39) 06 698 797 43 Email: or editorial.coordinator@caritas.va