“Almost half a million Congolese refugees have fled to neighboring countries, and over 2 million have been made homeless in their own country.”
Since 1998, an estimated 5.4 million people have lost their lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in the deadliest conflict since the Second World War.
The DRC is a vast country with enormous economic resources, but millions of its people live in extreme poverty and are at risk of disease and violence. Years of conflict have created one of the world's humanitarian crises.
In late 2008 the crisis in Goma hit headlines around the world. One year later, the situation in eastern DR Congo has only got worse. A Congolese military operation was launched in January 2009 with the aim of disarming the FDLR rebel militia by force. Since the operation started, there have been:
In northern DRC, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) - originally from northern Uganda but whose horrific violence has also devastated parts of Congo and Sudan - has recently intensified violence against civilians. Over 200,000 people have recently fled new attacks.
We are responding to the new displacement by expanding our existing activities to provide clean water and sanitation, basic hygiene necessities and improved protection to over 350,000 people affected by conflict in North and South Kivu and Haut Uélé.
We will continue our lobby work at a national and international level to ensure that the people of the DR Congo get the support they need to return home and rebuild their lives.
Story: Voices from the DRC: One man's dream of a better life
Photo gallery: Keeping civilians safe
Videos: Sexual Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Oxfam America, March 2009) and Stop the Killing in the Congo (November 2009)
Please consider helping fund our emergency work in the DRC. These Oxfam affiliates are running direct appeals:
Alternatively, you can also make a donation to the general emergency fund of your nearest national Oxfam affiliate. Your money will be used to fund our emergency work worldwide, which includes responding in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Updated November 2009
