91997E3738

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3738/97 by Yves Verwaerde (PPE) to the Commission (21 November 1997)

Subject: Situation in the Congo Republic

Would the Commission state its position on the recent political and military events in the Congo Republic?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3736/97 and E-3738/97 given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (16 December 1997)

The Commission's position on recent political events in the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) is that presented in the statement issued by the Council Presidency on 3 November 1997, on behalf of the European Union. A copy of this statement will be sent directly to the Honourable Member, as well as the Parliament Secretariat.

The Commission would like to take this opportunity to point out that, since the onset of military exchanges, it has provided funding for emergency humanitarian aid to four organisations: Médecins sans frontières (France and the Netherlands), Médecins du monde (France), Secours catholique (France) and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Throughout the conflict and until today, these programmes have meant that the basic needs of around 350 000 of the most vulnerable of the displaced persons can be provided for.

The Commission, in co-ordination with the main humanitarian organisations, is carefully monitoring the situation locally, in particular with regard to Brazzaville's water supply.

The funding granted to date is spread over a number of sectors and comes in total, if one includes contributions to the World Food Programme, to around ECU 10 million.