DRC
Current Situation
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2011 Global Peace Index ranking of 153 countries: 148 |
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Around 1.7 million internally displaced people and 455,852 refugees |
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More than half of the population lives under the poverty line |
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is regularly listed as the site of one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. A long series of conflicts ravaged the country throughout the 1990s, destroying most of its infrastructure. Millions of its people suffer from a lethal combination of disease and hunger caused by ongoing conflict and displacement. Recovery is slow and complex, making it one of the least developed countries in Africa.
DRC is rich in natural resources, but there is a desperate need for economic and social reconstruction before its potential can be realised. In much of the country, living conditions are dismal, access to health care is minimal and violence erupts frequently in unstable areas. Rape is horrifically common, as are extortion, kidnapping, looting, recruitment of children by armed groups and anti-personnel mine explosions.
Act for Peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Act for Peace's partners in DRC are working to bring some stability to the lives of its people. In the eastern Congo, around 70 per cent of those left homeless by war are taken in by other families. The hosts, like the guests, have few resources, and it is the hospitality of the poor that welcomes the poor. Our partners in the area have set up programs to aid those who have taken in refugees. We provide additional supplies, food, and training programs so that people can help one another to survive conflict.
In 2011, our partner, the All Africa Conference of Churches, is also working on empowerment for victims of conflict in eastern DRC, especially women and children, who are affected by the widespread problem of gender-based violence.
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can provide clothing, a blanket, mosquito netting, soap and dishes for a displaced family |
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can provide 50 children with a five piece clothing kit |
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can provide grain and vegetable seeds to farmers, so that they can produce nutritional food for their families |
