Lemarquis expressed deep concern about the insufficient humanitarian aid provided to populations affected by various crises in the country, where many intervention programs have been paralyzed.

In an interview with Radio Okapi, the coordinator noted that the United States’ suspension of its contributions to humanitarian actions has had a severe impact on the capacity to respond.

The system is doing everything possible to support the affected communities, despite the difficulties, mainly due to the lack of funding, Lemarquis said.

“Every time I go to the field, I see this, especially with the organizations struggling to continue providing health services and clean water,” he emphasized.

He said the entire humanitarian system is hopeful about the possibility of peace in eastern Congo, following the agreement between the DRC and Rwanda signed on June 27 in Washington.

“Humanitarians, like everyone else, hope this will bear fruit, as the best way to reduce humanitarian needs is for the guns to be silenced and peace to be restored, for people to be able to return to their fields, and for children to be able to go to school,” he said.

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