United Nations, the Republic of Congo's Government and humanitarian partners today appealed for $23.7 million to aid Congolese in the area of southern Brazzaville known as “the Pool”, where fighting and insecurity has displaced one out of every three people.

“The most pressing humanitarian needs are related to food security, nutrition, living conditions, and access to basic health services,” the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in the announcement.

People in the Pool are also vulnerable to attacks, threats, sexual violence, loss or family separation, OCHA said, stressing the need for protection.

The requested funding – which was made by national authorities, the UN and 16 aid partners – would provide emergency humanitarian aid to 138,000 people for the next six months.

Since the time that the violence began in April of last year, more than half of the families in the Pool are hungry, with up to 20 per cent of children under five acutely malnourished.

Access to health care, education and any market products is limited, OCHA said. Facilities for people who are displaced are “virtually non-existent.”