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Press Centre
News note
Statement on Humanitarian Access to the Pool Region
(Republic of Congo)
30 May 2002, The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, in concert
with the UN country team in the Republic of Congo, which includes the
World Food Programme, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,
United Nations Children's Fund, United Nations Development Programme,
United Nations Population Fund, the International Organisation for Migration
and the World Health Organisation, today called on the warring parties
in that country to enter into negotiations to guarantee safe humanitarian
access to the most affected regions of the Republic of Congo, where
tens of thousands of displaced people are believed to have found refuge
in forests or small villages.
In the past several days there have been some positive movements on
access. On 29 May, President Denis Sassou-Nguesso received Ms. Rima
Salah, UNICEF's Director for West and Central Africa. Thanking UN agencies
for their support, President Sassou-Nguesso pledged that his government
would ensure unlimited humanitarian access, for the UN and other international
aid agencies, to assist the population in the entire affected area.
On 28 May, a joint assessment mission comprising UN agencies and NGOs
visited the town of Kindamba. They found approximately 2,000 people
in poor condition without adequate shelter and sanitation. Another 14,000
more have fled from the town, mostly into the surrounding bush. This
mission marked the first time humanitarian partners were able to visit
the Pool Region since fighting began on 27 March, despite repeated requests
for access.
Sustained, secure and unconditional access throughout the Pool Region
is needed to meet the needs of the displaced population suffering the
combined effects of violence and two months without assistance. It is
important to ensure that pledges of full access are turned into reality.
The humanitarian community is ready to deliver food, medical supplies,
and non-food items to the displaced population most in need. The Emergency
Relief Coordinator and agencies urged the warring parties to ensure
the safe passage of humanitarian workers so that they can reach the
displaced population of Pool to avoid a full-scale humanitarian disaster.
They also called upon the warring parties to cease all violations of
the rights of the civilian population. They reminded the Government
of the Republic of Congo of its obligations towards the civilian population
as defined in international humanitarian law, and regretted that, in
choosing a military strategy, both sides to the conflict have shown
a wanton disregard for the humanitarian consequences of their actions.
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