In collaboration with the diocesan Caritas' of Kisangani and Isangi, Caritas-Développement Congo continues the distribution of an emergency aid to 7,500 families, i.e. 45,000 individuals, the most needy among the flood victims of Isangi, Basoko, Banalia and Kisangani in Province Orientale.

The distribution started on December 23rd for 5,500 families in the territory of Isangi. Among them 80 families from Basoko were also supplied with aid on January 7th 2007. On Saturday January 6th 2,000 families from the town of Kisangani received assistance, out of which 320 families from the town of Banalia, who will benefit from the aid on January 14th. All beneficiaries have been chosen in accordance with vulnerability criteria.

The assistance consists of non-food items, which have been purchased with the financial help of several members of the Caritas Internationalis Confederation. Those are Caritas Germany, Caritas International Belgium, CAFOD, CORDAID, Secours Catholique, Caritas Spain and Caritas Japan. Every family receives 6 cups, 1 ladle, 6 plates, 6 spoons, 2 buckets, 4 bars of soap of 200 g, 3 blankets, 1 pagne (6 yards), 4 children's outfits, 3 mosquito nets and 1 plastic tarpaulin.

In addition, Memisa Belgium supplied 9 tons of medicine, while World Fund provided 16,000 Malaria treatments. These ten tons of medicine that were given to 3 General Hospitals and 20 Health Care Centres allowed those to treat the flood victims for only 50% of their usual tariffs.

As a reminder, the Provincial Authorities had started to alert the public about the rise of the river Congo since 16th November 2006. The water rose to two meters above its normal level, which led to floods in over 50 villages. At the beginning of December 2006, a joint evaluation mission OCHA - Caritas Développement Congo demonstrated that the territories of Basoko and Isangi as well as the town of Kisangani were the worst hit. More than 20,000 families were affected.