Note: The following appeal is now closed. You can support our ongoing work by donating to the Canadian Red Cross
Ongoing hostilities within the Democratic Republic of Congo and between those of its neighbours are continuing to impact hundreds of thousands of people in the country. Years of armed conflict have wreaked havoc on the country, impacting the most vulnerable. The DRC is further challenged by natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and serious health concerns such as cholera, meningitis, ebola hemorrhagic fever, malaria, polio and water-borne diseases.
Since an upsurge in violence between rebels and government forces in October 2008, thousands of families have been displaced, both within the DRC and across its borders. The International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and local Red Cross National Societies in the DRC, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi are working together to provide support to affected communities.
More than 50,000 people within the DRC have received essential food items, drinking water and emergency shelter. For families that were separated during the fighting, a tracing campaign has reunited 24 children with their relatives. To implement these activities, the DRC Red Cross is collaborating with the ICRC. The ICRC, who works with communities in areas of conflict, has been active in the DRC for the last 30 years.
The Red Cross Movement is also supporting the thousands of people forced to flee to Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. The Ugandan Red Cross Society has registered approximately 13,000 refugees to ensure that humanitarian assistance is available to them. Over the next six months, Red Cross volunteers and staff will continue to tend to the immediate needs of this population, which includes 60,000 refugees within the DRC and neighbouring countries.
Along with its support during this crisis, the DRC Red Cross works with communities throughout the year in disaster management, heath care, promoting humanitarian values and food crisis response and prevention.
How you can help
The needs of communities in the DRC and refugees fleeing to neighboring Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi are immense. Your support will ensure that these Red Cross National Societies are able to help families from the DRC before, during and after this humanitarian crisis.
Make your donation:
Toll-free at 1-800-418-1111
In person at any Red Cross office
By mailing a cheque or money order to Canadian Red Cross, 400 Cooper Street, Suite 8000, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2H8. Earmark your donation “Democratic Republic of the Congo”.
In-kind donations of food, clothing and other items, while well intentioned, are not the best way to help those in need. There are tremendous processing and transportation costs involved in shipping these items to beneficiaries. Local purchases of food and clothing are more culturally appropriate and effective. Red Cross supplies can be purchased in the immediate area, thereby reducing transportation costs. Cash transfers to the affected region provide the optimum flexibility to our Red Cross colleagues so they can meet the most urgent needs.