ReliefWeb

4 November | GOMA/GENEVA - Almost one million people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are threatened by water-borne diseases and desperately need access to safe water, two major health risks that the World Health Organization and the Norwegian government have responded to today.

The Government of Norway today confirmed it will provide from the Norwegian Emergency Preparedness System (www.noreps.no) almost 30 tonnes worth of medicines to treat up to 150 000 people for diarrhoeal diseases, trauma and other critical conditions for a month.

Norway is also sending eight sets of water purification equipment to provide clean drinking water for at least 60 000 people.

The supplies will be flown within days to the region and distributed to WHO and health partners on the ground.

"Lives will be saved and suffering reduced thanks to the support being provided by the Government of Norway to those affected by the insecurity in eastern DRC," said Dr Alessandro Loretti, acting Assistant Director-General for WHO's Health Action in Crises Cluster.

For further information or interviews contact:

Paul Garwood
Communications Officer
WHO, Health Action in Crises, Geneva
Telephone: +41 22 791 3462
Mobile: +41 794 755546
E-mail: garwoodp@who.int