Democratic Republic of Congo

A “catastrophic” shortfall may imperil the lives of impoverished people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Radio France Internationale reports. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs cautioned that “only a small amount” of the USD820 million aid appeal for the African nation has so far been secured this year. The global financial crisis and redirection of aid to Haiti prompted the funding shortfall, said Fidele Sarassoro, the U.N. chief’s special representative to the DRC.