The Foreign Office decided to support the Christian Relief Network (CRN) in the Congo.
"It’s hard to imagine anyone anywhere in the World who is in a more difficult situation," says Minister of International Development, Erik Solheim to news website Aftenposten.no.
Fighting in the region has created a large number of refugees and there are increasing reports of plundering and sexual violence. The United Nations have a large peace keeping force in North Kivu Province, but it has been unable to protect the civilian population.
CRN works through the church to reach rape victims. It is able to give assistance in most of North Kivu province. All CRN’s permanent staff in Congo are local employees.
CRN had applied for money from the Norwegian authorities. In light of the worsening situation in North Kivu, the application was given top priority.
