The IRC in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Photo: Sinziana Demian/IRC
Congo is the world’s least developed country in terms of life expectancy, education, standard of living and key health indicators, like maternal and child mortality. Following years of economic and political decline, the war of 1998-2002 led to extreme violence, massive population displacement and widespread rape. Despite several formal peace agreements, violence continues in eastern Congo, causing loss of life and uprooting families. The state is unable to provide protection and basic services to its people, who continue to suffer from poverty and neglect.
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Inside our work in Congo
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In the Democratic Republic of Congo, years of violence and political instability have left much of the country in disarray. The IRC supports the people of Congo by providing them with basic services like health care and education, and helps them stay safe amid the ongoing violence.
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How We Help
- The IRC provides emergency assistance to hundreds of thousands of people in eastern Congo.
- The IRC works with local organizations and helps survivors of sexual violence with counseling, medical care and legal assistance.
- The IRC empowers communities to identify their own development needs and design and manage their own recovery projects, such as schools and health centers.
- The IRC trains health and government workers, rehabilitates and constructs hospitals and clinics, and provides essential drugs.
- The IRC trains thousands of teachers and enables almost 500,000 children to access basic education in safe schools.
The women's collective Femmes Lèves-Toi (Women, Rise Up) is a force for change in eastern Congo, starting at the community level. The IRC's Aisha Bain recounts an inspiring meeting with its members. on the Huffington Post.
CONGO CRISIS REPORT
A series of landmark and peer-reviewed studies by the International Rescue Committee and some of the world’s leading epidemiologists conclude that an estimated 5.4 million people died from conflict-related causes in the Democratic Republic of Congo between 1998 and 2007. The vast majority were not killed in combat. Most tragically died from malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition — easily preventable and treatable conditions when people have access to health care and nutritious food.
Research
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The IRC and Congo in the media
March 25, 2013 | The Telegraph
March 25, 2013 | Channel 4 News
March 10, 2013 | The Independent
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