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Home » Campaigns » Congo Crisis

Congo Crisis

Read Nasibamana's Story– A pregnant women flees from conflict with her family and loses her husband to the violence on the journey from her home to a camp.

(last updated 2/26/09)

Deteriorating Humanitarian Situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC):
Despite publicized peace efforts, the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has grown increasingly bleak with aid failing to reach a majority of the people.

A decade-old civil war was reignited late last year, leaving at least 900 dead and forcing more than 100,000 civilians to flee their homes since Christmas, according to the French NGO Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

The security of the millions of internally displaced persons (IDPs) across the DRC’s eastern border remains threatened, according to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

Mobility is limited for the Congolese as military movements have closed schools and roads, and a nearby volcano, which has displayed signs of an imminent eruption, threatens the lives of many.

Diseases have also taken their toll, with dozens of cholera and Ebola outbreaks reported.

Responding to the crisis, Islamic Relief set up a field office in the city of Goma—the capitol of the North Kivu province, one of the most impacted and desperate regions.

Islamic Relief field workers in the DRC are currently concentrating efforts on water and sanitation projects, distribution of non-food aid and coordinating between the various NGOs serving the displaced populations.

A weak response from the international community, however, has effectively limited the magnitude with which Islamic Relief can serve the people of the DRC, who need your immediate help.

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Conflict and humanitarian crisis in the DRC has taken the lives of 5.4 million people since 1998.

Aid workers are reporting that many IDPs have been displaced for the second, third or even fourth time since conflict erupted a decade ago.

Thousands of children are living in temporary settlement camps, where they are at an increased risk of being physically and mentally abused.

Extremely high levels of rape and gender-based violence are also being reported, with poor security apparatuses protecting girls and women in the camps.

Oxfam reported a tenfold increase in the number of rapes reported at local hospitals and clinics between May and the beginning of November 2008 in the town of Kanyabayonga, for example.

There is also a growing fear among humanitarian aid agencies that the former child soldiers in the camps are vulnerable to being re-recruited by the warring militias.

Since August 2008, renewed clashes between armed opposition groups and government forces have resulted in significant displacement, kidnappings, widespread looting and a deterioration of humanitarian conditions.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) argues that the cycle of blood-shed, destruction and sexual violence in the DRC will continue unless the international community takes decisive steps to help bring it to an end.

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A Tale of Dismay
“We are living in constant fear,” 45-year-old Burekeriyo, an IDP, told an Islamic Relief field worker in the DRC.

“It is quite insecure here in the camp and the militia can come anytime and do anything. They killed a girl the other day just because she showed resistance when they tried to rape her. There are many young girls and mothers in this camp and we have the constant threat that they may harm us,” she added.

Burekeriyo, who lives in a makeshift shelter with seven of her nine children, lost contact with her husband several weeks prior and in turn has lost hope that her family will be reunited.

“I really wish that [my husband] was still around as things would have been slightly better. I would not have been completely responsible for the care of my seven children. It is such a torture not knowing what has happened to him. I have no idea what state he is in, or even if he is still alive,” she said, fighting back tears.

Burekeriyo’s story is not uncommon, as nearly every Congolese IDP has either lost a family member or knows somebody who has.

Despite the widespread suffering and abhorrent conditions, with the support of aid organizations, most still maintain hope that they can one day return to their homes in peace.

“I really hope that the war stops soon so I can go back to my village with my children. Everyone in this camp is suffering and I request that those who can do something to please help to bring peace to my area so we can go back to our homes,” she said, begging for the public’s support.

Islamic Relief’s Response
Since founding a field office, Islamic Relief has launched a project to improve access for around 12,000 displaced Congolese to clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, shelter and non-food items.

Islamic Relief is no stranger to the region and has helped the Congolese people before.

In conjunction with various partners, Islamic Relief shipped about $18 million worth of medicines to Congo early in 2008.

The medicine was sent to treat common diseases in Congo such as malaria, infections, anemia, and other illnesses.

The shipment was coordinated between Islamic Relief USA, the Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, MO, the United Methodist Committee on Relief and Interchurch Medical Assistance.

The people in the DRC need your immediate help to bring relief. Please donate generously.

Read Nasibamana's Story–A pregnant women flees from conflict with her family and loses herhusband to the violence on the journey from her home to a camp.

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