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DRC (Congo) Central Africa

Millions of people have been uprooted by war and conflict. Your donation can change lives. Please give now.

Years of conflict in the DRC have taken their toll on the hundreds of thousands of IDPs. Families live in fear, continually forced to relocate to find safety, protection and an income to support their children.

Our target is $300,000

Overview

The civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was one of the world's deadliest conflicts since World War II, resulting in the deaths of more than 5.4 million people. Fuelled by struggles for political power and mineral wealth, fighting has flared regularly since 1996. Although the civil war has officially ended, in many parts of the country armed groups continue to terrorise the civilian population.

The most pressing issues in the DRC range from generalized poverty and lawlessness, long-standing ethnic rivalries and competition over resources and land. A large-scale repatriation program has also added pressure on local communities.

The situation is made significantly worse by the widespread sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) against women and girls which remains one of the biggest challenges for UNHCR. Reducing its prevalence and improving the quality of response continues to be a priority for UNHCR in the DRC in 2012.

While most of the DRC is now relatively stable, the security situation in the east of the country remains volatile. Clashes between the military and armed groups continue to generate internal displacement with figures currently standing at 1.7 million as of March 2012. Of these 1.7 million, UNHCR is currently assisting some 100,000. It is expected that 1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) will require UNHCR's assistance in 2012 with some 70,000 of them currently residing in camps.

Note: Should the funds raised exceed the amount required to meet the immediate and longer term needs of the people in the affected areas, Australia for UNHCR will direct donations to our Emergency Programs for Refugees to enable us to rapidly address future emergencies as they occur.

How we help

UNHCR's work in the DRC focuses primarily on the following areas:

Creating a favourable protection environment for returnees and Congolese IDPs;
Installing and maintaining fair protection processes and documentation;
Providing security from violence and exploitation particularly with regard to sexual and gender-based violence;
Continuing to provide basic needs and services;
Ensuring community participation and self-management

UNHCR runs three camps for internally displaced people near the city of Goma which is one of the worst-affected areas in the country where families receive high energy biscuits, plastic sheeting, building materials and a plot of land on which to erect a provisional shelter. As many people are arriving with next to nothing, UNHCR also provides them with essentials such as blankets, sleeping mats, cooking utensils, water storage containers and soap.

UNHCR is also supporting the class for vigorous action against perpetrators of human rights violations, and responding to sexual and gender-based violence. The consequences of rape are both physical and emotional with unwanted pregnancies, the risk of HIV infection, permanent injuries coupled with feelings of shame and humiliation with many women and girls afraid to speak out about their experience. As such, UNHCR is taking a lead role in coordination programs in the DRC that provide rape survivors with medical, psychosocial and legal support along with community education programs and literacy and business training.

Your support will help us provide protection and security for the most vulnerable people in the midst of this crisis. Please, donate today.

Meeting the MDGs

UNHCR is meeting the following MDGs in its emergency response in the DRC:

	MDG 1: In the DRC, UNHCR is working to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by providing nutritional supplements and therapeutic feeding to children suffering from malnutrition.
	MDG 4: UNHCR is also working to reduce child mortality by improving the health and safety of mothers and babies through the provision of emergency nutrition and healthcare.
	MDG 6: UNHCR is working to combat malaria and the spread of disease by distributing mosquito nets, conducting health education, and ensuring that effective sanitation processes are in place.

News

DRC: Congolese victims of sexual violence call for help from the international community - 16 March 2011

MUGUNGA III CAMP, Democratic Republic of the Congo, March 16 (UNHCR) – Marie* was first raped three years ago during a raid on her village that left her husband and 10 children dead – she was about 70 years old at the time.

DRC: Continuing insecurity threatens civilians in North Kivu - 7 February 2011

KALINGA, Democratic Republic of the Congo, February 7 (UNHCR) – Simmering insecurity continues to force Congolese civilians in North Kivu to flee their homes and seek security in places like Kalinga, one of many camps for the internally displaced in the volatile region.

DR CONGO: UN mission chief concerned over violence in North Kivu - 22 September 2010

The head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today voiced deep concern over continuing violence in the eastern province of North Kivu, where the Government is investigating a series of recent killings.

DR CONGO: Fresh clashes in DR Congo’s North Kivu province displace thousands - 13 July 2010

Clashes between the army in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and remnants of a Ugandan insurgency forced an estimated 20,000 people to flee their villages in the troubled North Kivu province of the vast African country, the United Nations reported today.