What’s going on in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is in the midst of an urgent and acute humanitarian crisis. As a result of the country’s ongoing conflict, the people have suffered, and continue to suffer, from displacement, murder, rape and other violence. Malnutrition and disease are widespread and much of the population lacks food, shelter and basic health care. It is estimated that 3.8 million people have died since civil war broke out in the DRC in 1998. The majority of deaths have been due to largely preventable disease (such as malaria, measles, malnutrition) rather than violence. However, war has reduced access to health services for large numbers of the population. Violence continues to flare in the North Kivu province, and in parts of the Katanga province. In January 2008, the government of the DRC signed a peace accord with over 20 armed Congolese groups. This agreement was upheld for the most part until late August 2008, when intense fighting renewed between the FARDC (Armed Forces o
