The situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo remains fragile, after rebel forces and local militia clashed north of Goma. More than 250,000 people have been displaced by the recent fighting and the humanitarian situation remains catastrophic. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is currently trying to find out what happened to the 50,000 people that were previously housed in the area. “As we feared, three internal displacement sites run by UNHCR near the town of Rutshuru in eastern DRC (…) have been destroyed and emptied,” David Benthu Nthengwe, UNHCR external relations officer, told IRIN “We and our partners are now trying to determine the whereabouts of tens of thousands of IDPs from the camps.”
The fighting in eastern DRC represents only a recent spike in violence in a country plagued by years of war. One of the underlying causes of the conflict is the ongoing impunity for perpetrators of the most egregious human rights violations, including sexual violence against women and recruitment of child soldiers. Despite having the largest UN peacekeeping force in the world, the question remains: what else can the international community do to bring lasting peace to the people of the DRC?
As a current student of human rights, I appreciate your continued coverage of this topic. My graduate program recently organized a Congo awareness week and I think it is crucial that the education does not end there. Articles such as these provide continued awareness and education, and are crucial elements of the discourse around ending these atrocities. I think though, out of a sense of helplessness, many of us continue to ask ourselves–what, besides being aware of the situation-can we DO?
Dear Ursula,
I appreciate your interest in the topic and I encourage you to check back on our blog and DRC country page http://www.amnestyusa.org/drc regularly to stay informed of Amnesty International’s response to the deteriorating situation. Amnesty International is an organization that counts on activists like you and we will make sure to provide you with an opportunity to not only do “something”, but to make a real impact on the human rights situation in eastern DRC.
Dear Ursula,
I appreciate your interest in the topic and I encourage you to check back on our blog and DRC country page http://www.amnestyusa.org/drc regularly to stay informed of Amnesty International’s response to the deteriorating situation. Amnesty International is an organization that counts on activists like you and we will make sure to provide you with an opportunity to not only do “something”, but to make a real impact on the human rights situation in eastern DRC.
Dear Ursula,
I appreciate your interest in the topic and I encourage you to check back on our blog and DRC country page http://www.amnestyusa.org/drc regularly to stay informed of Amnesty International’s response to the deteriorating situation. Amnesty International is an organization that counts on activists like you and we will make sure to provide you with an opportunity to not only do “something”, but to make a real impact on the human rights situation in eastern DRC.
As a current student of human rights, I appreciate your continued coverage of this topic. My graduate program recently organized a Congo awareness week and I think it is crucial that the education does not end there. Articles such as these provide continued awareness and education, and are crucial elements of the discourse around ending these atrocities. I think though, out of a sense of helplessness, many of us continue to ask ourselves–what, besides being aware of the situation-can we DO?
Dear Ursula,
I appreciate your interest in the topic and I encourage you to check back on our blog and DRC country page http://www.amnestyusa.org/drc regularly to stay informed of Amnesty International’s response to the deteriorating situation. Amnesty International is an organization that counts on activists like you and we will make sure to provide you with an opportunity to not only do “something”, but to make a real impact on the human rights situation in eastern DRC.
You can take action here: http://www.amnestyusa.org/page.php?id=581
You can take action here: http://www.amnestyusa.org/page.php?id=581
You can take action here: http://www.amnestyusa.org/page.php?id=581
You can take action here: http://www.amnestyusa.org/page.php?id=581
Its Sad to see that Several Old Problems such as Disease and the Use of Child Soldiers are returning to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Reuters is Reporting that a Center that Housed Former Child Soldiers has been raided.
Another Question that needs to be asked is regarding Uganda. With the Reports of that country closing its Border to Refugees do we think that it will make things worse?
Its Sad to see that Several Old Problems such as Disease and the Use of Child Soldiers are returning to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Reuters is Reporting that a Center that Housed Former Child Soldiers has been raided.
Another Question that needs to be asked is regarding Uganda. With the Reports of that country closing its Border to Refugees do we think that it will make things worse?
No more American tax payers money to Africa! Nothing has cahnged in 30 years because of the corruption.
No more American tax payers money to Africa! Nothing has cahnged in 30 years because of the corruption.