WFP runs 3 operations in the Republic of Congo: Assistance to refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo; School meals programme; and the Urban Safety Nets Programme in Brazzaville and Pointe Noire.
In addition to these operations, WFP launched an emergency and special operations in response to the March 4, 2012 military arms depot explosion in Mpila.
In June 2012, the Urban Safety Net Programme was officially launched by the Minister of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Actions in favor of vlunerable populations in five zones in the cities of Brazzaville and Pointe Noire. In this programme, 4,000 families receive electronic vouchers worth 20,000 CFA (close to USD40), which can be exchanged for food at selected grocery stores. This project is the result of a study carried out in September 2010 in Brazzaville and Pointe Noire that highlighted the huge number of urban poor with little or no access to basic social services.
In addition to this program, WFP’s food assistance to refugees provides monthly rations to 115,000 Congolese who fled fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The objective of the program is to improve food security and enhance resilience to shocks for the refugee population.
In May 2012, Congolese refugees have started going back home with the help of a repatriation programme supported by WFP and other humanitarian organisations.
WFP Republic of Congo also targets 85,000 school children through its school meals program which covers 531 school in the 4 regions with the highest levels of food insecurity in the country. The main objectives of the project are to increase food security and school attendance, particularly for girls. The school attendance rate in schools supported by WFP is up to 90% as of 2012.
In March 2012, the explosion of a military arms depot in Mpila led to huge losses of lives and properties as well as population displacements in the capital, Brazzaville.
WFP responded through an emergency operation to provide food assistance to 25,000 of the most vulnerable of the affected population until the end of August 2012.
A Special Operation was also launched to boost the Government's capacity to respond to the emergency. Technical support is provided in the area of warehouse management through the installation of large storage tents and the provision of training and equipment for government staff. This operation is scheduled to end in October.