The Senior United Nations Regional Director for West and Central African Marie Pierre Poirier has said that UNICEF needs at least $862 million to respond effectively to humanitarian needs in the DRC, particularly in the east of the country.
The senior UN official made the statement in Goma on Monday December 5th, while visiting the capital of North Kivu province.
Marie-Pierre Poirier said that today is UNICEF’s biggest appeal ever. At the global level, it is ten billion dollars, at the level of the DRC, it is 862 million, because we are living through one of the biggest crises on the planet.
“We call for the great solidarity of the planet to enable us to do more. Every child has the right to health, education, nutrition and a better future in this beautiful country,” Marie-Pierre Poirier explained.
While touring the province, Marie-Pierre Poirier supervised the launch and distribution of essential items to more than 8,000 displaced households in Munigi, Nyiragongo territory.
For her, the needs for humanitarian response are growing and growing, a general mobilization is more than necessary.
“The displaced are really in extremely precarious conditions. They make houses with a few tree branches, and they have nothing at all. They received a kit called a basic necessity. A tarpaulin to protect from the rain, I saw plates, a saucepan, cups, spoons to cook, mat to put on the ground, soap.” She observed
In addition, she noted this assistance is timely especially for people living under difficult conditions.
“The next phase is the WASH kit…It’s not much, but on the other side, it’s a lot. We hope that with this, households can be reassured to sleep a little warm, protected themselves from rain and take care of their children,” She added
