Rapid Response Payment Request No. 8/2008

Funds Sent To: Bureau Oecuménique d'Appui au Développement (BOAD)

Amount Sent: US$ 47,365

Date: 8 February 2008

Details of Response

Emergency: Earthquake in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Date of Emergency: 3 February 2008

Requesting members: The DRC ACT Pool Oriental

Implementing members: Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), Church Christ in Congo South Kivu (ECC SK), The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Congo (ELCC) and DanChurchAid (DCA)

Details of the Emergency: At least five people have died in the city of Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), following a series of powerful earthquakes on the border areas with Rwanda on Sunday, February 3.

Action by Churches Together (ACT) International forum members in the eastern part of DRC reported at least 250 people were injured in Bukavu, with the majority injuries having occurred when a church they were praying in collapsed.

The forum, ACT Pool Oriental, are: the Ecumenical Office for Support to Development/Bureau Oecuménique d'Appui au Développement (BOAD), Christian Aid, Norwegian Church Aid, DanChurchAid, Eglise du Christ au Congo (ECC) in South Kivu, North Kivu, Province-Orientale and Maniema, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Congo (ELCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).

According to the forum's rapid assessment findings, a total of 815 public and residential buildings in the Kabare territory and Bukavu City were completely destroyed; about 1,500 others have developed minor and major cracks. Due to a fear of aftershocks, people whose houses developed cracks have been advised to stay out of their homes for the next few days.

To date, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the International Medical Corps, Malteser International and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have initiated medical assistance to those who were injured. The United Nations High Commission of Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the International Rescue Committee are providing non-food items (NFIs) such as blankets, plastic sheets and sleeping mats to those affected.

Purpose of Response: The ACT Pool Oriental, through four of its members NCA, ECC South Kivu, ELCC and DCA, plans to fill the gaps in the current humanitarian assistance by providing food and NFIs to the affected population in Bukavu and the Kabare Territory. The beneficiaries of this RRF are those left homeless, host families and those who have been injured; in particular children, the elderly and pregnant and lactating women. In addition to this RRF request, NCA has indicated that it will assist vulnerable groups by providing blankets through its own funds. This rapid response intervention is also a preparation of an ACT Appeal.

Implementation Period: The implementation period will be for one month and shall commence when funds are available.

BUDGET: US$ 47,635

(For beneficiary information and location of response, proposed assistance and full budget, kindly visit the ACT site. Thank you.)

ACTION

The ACT Co-ordinating Office has approved the use of US$ 47,635 towards the budget from its Rapid Response Fund and would be grateful to receive contributions to wholly or partially replenish this payment. This RRF will be treated as an advance on the forthcoming Appeal.

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ACT is a global alliance of Churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.