Alfonsine Kmpala and her family fled to the forest to hide from rebels  Read more

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Since gaining independence in 1960, the Democratic Republic of Congo, formally Zaire, has endured decades of political and social turmoil.

An estimated 5.4 million people have died as a result of conflict, hunger and disease since 1998 when a civil war broke out between the existing government and rebel forces.

Despite relatively free and fair elections in October 2006, the country remains volatile, particularly in the east where rebel forces continue to operate. Here up to 80% of people have fled their homes as low-level fighting continues to flare up.

This is one of the world’s deadliest conflicts, yet it is the least publicised. Rape is often used as a weapon of war and its effects are devastating. Rates of HIV have increased and many people suffer debilitating psychological problems.

HOW MERLIN IS HELPING:

Merlin has been working in DRC since 1997 when it provided emergency assistance to refugees in the east of the country. The team comprising of 30 international staff and 350 Congolese supports over 140 health facilities and five hospitals in North Kivu and Maniema provinces, serving a population of over 1.5 million people.

Primary and secondary health care
Maniema and North Kivu in eastern DRC were badly affected by the civil war. Hospitals were destroyed, pharmacies lay empty and doctors were not paid for months. Since 2002, Merlin has been working with communities to rebuild over 100 health facilities. We are providing drugs and training local health staff, ensuring they have the medicines and the expertise to provide good quality health care. Merlin also supports several hospitals, including Kindu Hospital, the largest in Maniema Province, treating 2,000 patients every month.

Sexual and gender-based violence

North Kivu remains a flash point for on-going fighting between rebels and government forces. Here women and children are at particular risk of sexual and gender-based violence. Rape is habitually used as a weapon of war causing alarmingly high rates of HIV/AIDs transmission as well as medical and psychological trauma. Merlin is working to change attitudes amongst the communities in conflict-affected areas, ensuring that sexual violence is no longer tolerated. We also provide training to health staff so that they have the necessary skills to provide the correct treatment for rape victims.

Providing health care for war-affected communities
In North Kivu, over 800,000 people have fled their homes due to on-going conflict. Many people live in temporary shelters with limited food, water and health care, and are at constant risk of attack from militia groups. Merlin is providing health care to a population of 400,000 in the worst affected Rutshuru territory, ensuring they have access to medical treatment when they need it.

Access to clean water
Merlin is reducing the risk of waterborne disease outbreaks by renovating water sources in Birambizo in North Kivu Province and Pangi in Maniema Province, and by raising community awareness of good hygiene practices. Over 78,000 people now have improved access to clean water, reducing the risk of diseases such as cholera, dysentery and eye infections.

Key Achievements

• Last year Merlin treated 715,000 people as part of our primary health care programmes in Maniema and North Kivu

• In November we vaccinated 17,041 children against measles reducing the risk of an outbreak amongst displaced people in North Kivu

• We treated 66 outbreaks of cholera throughout eastern DRC.

Donors supporting Merlin's work

Department for international development, Global Fund, OFDA, Raise, ECHO, Unicef

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