United Nations Radio

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) is appealing for $20 million to help meet the needs of tens of thousands of refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who are in neighbouring Republic of the Congo.

Congolese refugees

The funds requested by UNHCR are part of an appeal for close to $59 million launched by the United Nations humanitarian agency (OCHA) to help the Congolese refugees.

UNHCR is concerned about the plight of the 110,000 refugees who crossed the river in October and November last year to flee ethnic conflict in the Equateur Province of Congo-Kinshasa.

Fighting started in late October last year when Enyele militiamen launched deadly assaults on ethnic Munzayas over fishing and farming rights in the Dongo area.

The agency says the refugees, the vast majority of whom are women and children, are in Likouala province of Congo-Brazzaville.

UNHCR spokesperson Melissa Fleming says the agency has so far only been able to cover thirty per cent of the needs of this huge population for food, sanitation, shelter, healthcare and primary education.

"They are dispersed along the river in over 100 sites in an area extending 600 km so very difficult to access. The river is low right now. It's difficult for us to get big boats that will help us transport all of the supplies, and not only that, we don't have the funding for all of the supplies. This is why our call is urgent."

UNHCR says tensions have expanded to most parts of Equateur province, driving an additional 18,000 refugees to flee to the Central African Republic.

Dianne Penn, UN Radio.

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