ACT Preliminary Appeal Eastern DRC Conflict and Displacement - AFDC81

Appeal Target: US$ 1,888,215

Geneva, November 14, 2008

Dear Colleagues,

The purpose of this letter is to convey to you the Preliminary Appeal, Democratic republic of Congo (DRC) Conflict and Displacement, for your review and potential response.

In recent weeks and months the situation in the eastern DRC has become worse, with fighting breaking our in Masisi in August between Government forces and Laurent Nkunda's National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), and spreading to the neighbouring Rutshuru region. An estimated 250,000 people have been displaced in recent weeks. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) reports that between 1.4 million and 2 million people are displaced in North Kivu, which includes those uprooted from earlier waves of fighting since 2007. The attached document provides additional detail. This crisis is well documented from reports received from ACT members working in the region, as well as from other UN and NGO sources and the international press.

Despite the lack of humanitarian access, several ACT members have been working throughout the crisis, and have been able to deliver some initial assistance. On 3 November 2008 an ACT Alert (Number 44/2008, DR Congo: North Kivu Conflict and Displacement) was circulated, for the purpose of notifying the ACT alliance on the prevailing situation, and indicating that a needs assessment was to be carried out. The assessment, under the auspices of the ACT Forum of Eastern DRC, covered four separate areas. Results of the assessment have formed the basis for this Preliminary Appeal. In addition, over the past two weeks, four teleconference calls were organized by the ACT CO, with participation of representatives from the ACT Eastern DRC Forum, and with DanChurchAid, Christian Aid, ICCO, Finn Church Aid, Norwegian Church Aid, Church of Sweden, Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance USA, and the Lutheran World Federation in Geneva.

The following ACT members are participating in this Preliminary Appeal: Church of Christ in Congo (ECC – South Kivu and North Kivu)), Ecumenical Office for Support to Development (BOAD), Evangelical Lutheran Church of Congo (EELCO), Lutheran World Federation (LWF), and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA). This Preliminary Appeal will be followed by a full Appeal in the near future, after ACT members in the eastern DRC have been able to carry out a deeper needs assessment, including continued coordination with OCHA, other UN agencies, and NGOs working in the emergency.

The ACT CO commends this Preliminary Appeal for your consideration. The seriousness of the situation warrants your careful review, and your consideration on how members of the ACT alliance may be able to support our six implementing members which are working in extremely difficult circumstances to assist persons and families displaced and affected by the conflict.

Project Completion Date: 30 November 2009

Reporting schedule: Every two weeks during the first month, the members receiving a Preliminary Appeal funding advance will submit a brief (one-two page) Situation Report to the ACT CO, summarizing activities undertaken and progress made in the emergency response. Photographs and human interest stories should accompany the reports. Thereafter, reports will be submitted according to standard Appeal reporting.

Specific dates will be set once the full appeal is finalized.

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested (US$):

Please kindly send your contributions to either of the following ACT bank accounts:

US dollar
Account Number - 240-432629.60A
IBAN No: CH46 0024 0240 4326 2960A

Euro
Euro Bank Account Number - 240-432629.50Z
IBAN No: CH84 0024 0240 4326 2950Z

Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together
UBS AG
8, rue du Rhône
P.O. Box 2600
1211 Geneva 4, SWITZERLAND
Swift address: UBSWCHZH80A

Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (jkg@act-intl.org) and the Programme Officer, Michael Hyden (mhy@act-intl.org, of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers, now that the Pledge Form is no longer attached to the Appeal.

We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or other back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation.

For further information please contact:

ACT Director, John Nduna (phone +41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone + 41 79 203 6055) or
ACT Program Officer, Michael Hyden (phone +41 22 791 6040 or mobile phone +41 79 433 0592)
Bob White Deputy Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office