Violence has abated gradually in recent years but the situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)—especially North Kivu—continues to be highly unstable and dangerous for ordinary civilians, as fighting flared up again during the second half of 2009. In the areas surrounding the town of Masisi, many farmers were forced to abandon their fields, which significantly reduced the food security of the most vulnerable households.
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Through cash-for-work programs, Concern is employing the poorest commuity members to help repair roads in rural DRC. Photo: Feargal O'Connell |
Concern’s work in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Concern has been working in DRC since 1994 and our current programs focus on emergency response, as well as health, livelihoods, nutrition, and HIV and AIDS.
- HEALTH—Fighting malnutrition and providing water systems and hygiene training to 17 villages
- LIVELIHOODS—Improving livelihood opportunities for 41,000 extremely poor people
- EMERGENCY—Meeting the survival needs of 129,000 displaced families
Democratic Republic of Congo at a Glance
Area: 2,345,000 sq km
Population: 58.7 m
GDP per capita: US $298
Infant mortality (per thousand births): 81
Life expectancy: 47.6%
Living with HIV and AIDS: 79,000
Literacy rate: 67.2%
Access to safe water: 46%
Human development rank: 176 (out of 182)
Global hunger rank/index*: 84 / 39.1