Congo Genocide Rewinds in 2024

Congo has been experiencing a silent holocaust just under our eyes.

Six million people have been forced from their homes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) across the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Tanganyika because of decades of conflict between armed groups resulting in massive abuses of human rights and horrific incidences of gender-based violence.

As the Congolese people relive the silent Holocaust of the 1960s Belgian Congo, which killed over 10 million lives, we are seeing a second massacre. Moreover, it appears that rather than improving, things have become worse than before, particularly for women and children.

The ongoing Gender-based violence

According to the UN Refugee Agency, The Democratic Republic of the Congo has one of the world's most complicated humanitarian situations.  Moreover, the UN refugee agency reports that in 2023 alone, 10,000 incidences of gender-based violence were documented in North Kivu, with 6,600 of those cases—or shockingly, 66%—involving rape of women and girls. The numbers represent only a small portion of relocated individuals. 

Fearing stigmatization from their communities, many survivors never ask for assistance or never disclose the abuse they experience. In less than a year, violence in Ituri, South Kivu, and North Kivu has forced nearly 2.8 million people to flee their homes. Humanitarian organizations engage with neighbourhood mom-led establishments to educate local communities about prevention and response in addition to providing health and psychosocial care.

UN urges the Congolese government, local authorities, and foreign communities to act immediately against gender-based violence.

The armed Troops

According to the leading non-governmental organization,  Global Centre For The Responsibility To Protect, several armed groups are operating in the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Tanganyika carrying out widespread abuses and violations that are classified as war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Forces Armed de la republique democratique du Congo (FARDC) has been linked to numerous breaches of human rights law, which include sexual assault, torture, and arbitrary killing.

Congo will require 2.25 billion, according to the 2023–2024 Drc Humanitarian Response Plan, in order for national and international NGOs and United Nations agencies to provide aid to 10 million people. 

Strategic goals

1. Preserving life, alleviating suffering and improving the protection of civilians

Ten million women, men, girls, and boys receive multi-sectoral emergency help, which addresses their basic needs in a timely, sufficient, and appropriate manner. This aid is especially important for people who are vulnerable due to multiple circumstances.

2. Assisting impacted communities in meeting their fundamental needs

Four million crisis-affected women, men, girls, and bots are able to enhance their living conditions and strengthen their ability to avert, manage, and recover from shocks thanks to the multisectoral humanitarian response.

Edited by: Jaya Jha

Photo from: Pinterest

0 comments

Leave a comment