The needs of refugees and displaced people are outstripping the resources and capacities of the existing humanitarian system. The World Humanitarian Summit is an initiative of the UN Secretary-General to seek solutions to improve the humanitarian system, thereby reducing human suffering. It will be held on May 26-27, 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey.
The Many Faces of CAR’s Displaced
Muslim and Christian, men and women, young and old, urban and rural. My colleague Mark Yarnell and I have spent the last two weeks meeting with internally displaced people (IDPs) across the Central African Republic and with those living across the border as refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We’ve visited those living…
Assistance Denied: Aid and LGBTI Rights in the Congo
One day on the shores of Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Micheline went to jail. The arrest probably did not come as a surprise to her. Working as a sex worker, run-ins with the police may have been a common occurrence for Micheline. But when she reached the prison on that particular…
Stop the PR Campaign, Start Making a Difference
When I was in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) last October, every meeting that I held with Congolese government officials sounded surprisingly similar. They were all engaged in a battle to change the long-held image of the country as “the rape capital of the world.” Government officials explained to me that now that…
Congolese Women: What Happened to the Promise to Protect?
The widespread acknowledgement of conflict-related sexual violence in the DRC spurred the international community to act in an unprecedented manner.
With Battle Looming in Eastern DRC, Now Is the Time to Prevent, Prepare, and Protect
This month, one of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s longest-running conflicts may finally reach an inflection point. After months of political posturing, it appears that the international community will now launch a military offensive against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). The Congolese armed forces (FARDC) will be expected to lead the…
“The Triangle of Death:” Responding to Congo’s Hidden Crisis
Between 2011 and 2014, the number of people displaced in the DRC’s Katanga province jumped from 55,000 to 500,000 – more than 900 percent – as more than 100 villages have been burnt to the ground. Civilians face threats from local rebel movements, tribal militias, and abusive elements of the Congolese army. In this video, RI…
Congolese Dying to Feed Their Families as Food Cuts Bite
In parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, many displaced people are so hungry that they are risking their very lives – and fates worse than death – for a few cups of corn or beans.
DR Congo: North Kivu’s Long, Rocky Road to Stability
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu province remains unsafe, and stability over the long-term is far from guaranteed.
DR Congo: Katanga in Crisis
Katanga, the richest province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is experiencing a humanitarian and security crisis that is worsening by the day.