I periodically receive e-alerts and press releases from an organization called “Friends of the Congo”, whose goal is to bring attention to the continuing atrocities occurring in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Although the mainstream media is quick to run stories about the killing of endangered Gorillas in that country, it is virtually silent on the continuing war, rapes, corporate plunder of minerals and other natural resources, as well as the massive food shortages ravaging the country.
Since 1996, nearly six million people (some estimates go as high as 10 million) have died in the Congo as a result of the conflict and its resulting consequences, such as malnutrition and diseases. Forty-five thousand Congolese continue to die each month, which is about 1,500 per day! Hundreds of thousands of women have been systematically raped in an attempt to destabilize entire societies to gain access to coveted mineral resources. I recently watched a disturbing documentary entitled “The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo” , which exposes the epidemic of kidnappings, rapes and torture of women and girls in the DRC, and how they are left traumatized and shunned by their families and communities, as well as suffering life long health and psychological effects, such as HIV/AIDS.
The United Nations says the conflict in the Congo is the deadliest conflict in the world since World War Two. Doctors Without Borders has consistently reported that the Congo situation is one of the “top ten” most underreported humanitarian stories in the world. Friends of the Congo and students throughout the globe are organizing the Break the Silence Congo Week from October 19 – 25, 2008 in at least 100 countries and 1,000 campuses, “from Brazil to Belgium, South Africa to Sweden, Kenya to Korea and in many other localities”. This initiative’s aim is to raise awareness about the situation in the Congo and provide support to the people of the Congo. Students and community leaders will show films, hold teach-ins, organize forums, host fund-raisers, participate in cell phone boycotts, and many other activities and events.
As people of African descent, we need to educate ourselves… become more aware and outraged by what is happening in the DRC. Please mark the above dates in your calendar, find and support any events in your area. Hopefully, we will get involved in some way to support the people of the DRC.
Reference Materials about the DRC conflict:
