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Overview
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has faced ongoing conflict for over a decade, with devastating effects on its civilian population. The most recent war of 1998–2002 was characterized by mass displacement, collapse of health systems and food shortages, all of which have contributed to significant elevations in mortality. Although a formal peace accord was signed in December 2002, the war has since given way to several smaller conflicts in the five eastern provinces that have continued to take an enormous toll on the lives and livelihoods of local populations.
It is estimated that 5.4 million excess deaths have occurred in DRC between August 1998 and April 2007. An estimated 2.1 million of those deaths have occurred since the formal end of war in 2002. In 2006-2007, more than four years after the signing of the formal peace agreement, the DRC’s national crude mortality rate (CMR) of 2.2 deaths per 1,000 per month is 57 percent higher than the average rate for sub-Saharan Africa.
While insecurity persists in areas of eastern DRC, only 0.4 percent of all deaths across DRC were attributed directly to violence. The majority of deaths have been due to infectious diseases, malnutrition and neonatal- and pregnancy-related conditions. Increased rates of disease are likely to be related to the social and economic disturbances caused by conflict, including disruption of health services, poor food security, deterioration of infrastructure, and population displacement. This persistent elevation of mortality provides further evidence that recovery from conflict can take many years, especially when coinciding with decades of political and socioeconomic decline. Sustained and measurable improvements in key indicators such as mortality will require committed national and international engagement for many years.
Recent political developments together with improvements in security and humanitarian funding have raised hope that DRC could emerge from years of crisis, but DRC faces many challenges on its road to recovery and development.
GOAL in DRC
GOAL first gave assistance to the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1994/5, when it responded to the refugee crisis following the genocide in Rwanda. In January 2002, GOAL returned to Goma in eastern DRC in the aftermath of the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo near Goma, where GOAL distributed non-food items to families affected by the eruption and rehabilitated three schools.
In August 2002, GOAL shifted its operations to Manono in Katanga province, serving a population of some 500,000. GOAL extended its operation in 2004 to Lulingu in South Kivu, supporting a population of approximately 130,000. GOAL’s programmes have developed and progressed in both locations, and in 2007 GOAL continued to concentrate humanitarian efforts in both sites. However, 2007 was a year of transition for DRC as a country, and also GOAL’s programme within it. Following the first democratic elections in 30 years that were held in late 2006, much of the focus within DRC has been on rehabilitation and recovery. This has had a significant impact on GOAL’s programme activities in DRC, which have recently transitioned from an emergency programme into a post crisis recovery / development approach, enabled by the current relative security and stability.
At the end of 2007, GOAL DRC closed its programme activities in Lulingu, South Kivu, in order to focus its programmes going forward in Katanga Province. GOAL remains committed to continuing work in DRC for the long term, allowing GOAL to take a structured and measured approach in its planning and activities. The project area in Manono is currently accessible by air, with very limited road access due to the deterioration in the road network throughout eastern DRC, following years of ongoing conflict. As a result, GOAL is assisting a population in significant need and providing the only outside assistance in its sectors of activity.
GOAL’s ongoing, multi-sectoral programme in Manono consists of:
- Construction and rehabilitation of vital roads, bridges, schools and health centres
- Installation of water points and latrines coupled with hygiene behaviour change interventions
- Community level preventative health care interventions including reproductive health and key public health issues, such as malaria
- A nutrition programme consisting of community therapeutic care and PD Hearth activities for the treatment of severely malnourished children and the prevention of malnutrition within the community
- Support to the paediatrics ward of the local hospital
- HIV/AIDS awareness and behaviour change activities, and support to Manono hospital for the safe testing of blood
- Livelihoods activities, including distributions of seeds, tools, fishing equipment and animals, along with the associated training
- Small-scale income-generating activities through local cooperatives and associations
- A REFLECT programme which combines women literacy training with community development and empowerment activities
- Support to a community radio station, to facilitate the sharing of essential information and education in this remote area
- A gender programme, providing support to the local hospital for the proper treatment and referral of complicated reproductive health issues, particularly those resulting from gender-based violence, along with gender awareness messaging.
Accolades to GOAL DRC
‘Over the years John O'Shea has used his unique leadership qualities to attract skilled dedicated staff to enable GOAL address the issue of poverty and exclusion in many parts of the world. One example is Goma in 1994, when no one wanted to bury some 40,000 victims of cholera – GOAL volunteers carried it out and were justly praised for their courage and humility. I am so proud of them and know I will go on meeting them in places where the humanitarian need is greatest.’
Mary Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human rights.
UN chief commends GOAL's work in the DRC
Media Statement, 7th September 2006
'For the first time we are citizens and citizens
vote'
Conor Loughlin, Irish Independent, 29th July 2006
Congolese Finally Vote for Peace
Felim McMahon, Irish Times, 18th January 2006
DRC: The human rights situation in January 2006
UN Organization Mission in the DRC, 7th
February 2006
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