In accordance with the commitments taken by Bernard Kouchner, France's humanitarian aid to the Democratic Republic of the Congo is being assembled. It will total 8.2 million euros.
Some 3.3 million euros has been allocated for food aid, including 1.8 million for the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and 1.5 million for French NGOs active in Kivu (Première Urgence, Secours Catholique).
Another 4.2 million euros in relief aid will be swiftly unblocked to rebuild some of the WFP's stocks in the region.
France has also decided to grant 300,000 euros to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (HCR). This amount, added to the 400,000 euros already provided early this year to support the HCR's activities in the DRC, will be used to help displaced populations in the eastern part of the country.
Several French NGOs have also initiated specific actions in Rutshuru: Doctors Without Borders, to benefit the town hospital; and Solidarité, in the area of water.
Finally, following a needs assessment carried out on the ground, the European Commission has granted 4 million euros in emergency aid, to be implemented through ECHO.