UN warns of "catastrophic" shortfall of aid to DR Congo

The UN is warning that a "catastrophic" shortfall in aid for the DR Congo could put the lives of hundreds of thousands of people at risk. The OCHA, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, says only a small amount of aid has come through so far this year. 

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If it doesn't raise 820 million dollars the OCHA says the consequences could be dramatic.

 Fidele Sarassoro, the UN chief's special representative for DRC, says the shortfall is due to the world financial crisis and to Haiti. He says that many rich countries redirected their funds to the Caribbean island to help those affected after the devastating earthquake.

Medecins Sans Frontieres also issued a report on declining funding for AIDS drugs in Africa, stating that the number of patients able to start antiretroviral treatment in the DRC had been cut six fold last year.