Measuring Commitment to Best Practice
HRI 2008
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
In the past decade, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has endured a complex conflict with catastrophic humanitarian consequences. Since 1998, 5.4 million people have lost their lives in what various sectors called the “World War of Africa.” Massive displacement, deteriorated basic health services, famine and epidemics have contributed to a rapid increase in mortality. Although a formal peace agreement was signed in 2002, the persistence of conflicts in the east has deteriorated severely the quality of life of the population. In 2006, the first democratic elections in 40 years were held; although, this did not translate in the stabilisation of the country. According to UNICEF, in 2007, the number of deaths was 80% higher than in 1998, before the war began. In January 2008, the Goma Agreements were signed, which establish a ceasefire between the government and the different armed groups.
The humanitarian crisis
• Victims. Four years after the formal peace agreement, mortality rates in the DRC are still very high. Each month 2.2 people out of 1,000 lose their lives; a figure 57% greater than the average in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to UNICEF data. These deaths mainly occur as a result of the havoc wreaked by the conflict, such as the weakness of the health system, food insecurity, deteriorating infrastructure and massive population displacement.
•Displacements. During 2006, groups of refugees began returning from Tanzania, Congo-Brazzaville and Zambia. A year later, new outbreaks of violence led to the displacement of more than half a million people, the largest number of displaced people registered since the end of the civil war in 2003.
• Human rights violations. Parties to the conflict continue using systematic human rights violations as a weapon of war. There continue to be high levels of disappearances and arbitrary arrests, as well as the use of child soldiers and extrajudicial executions. The impunity and the ineffectiveness of the justice system prevent crimes committed more than a decade ago from being judged. The work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) toward this end should be highlighted; since 2004, the ICC is judging the crimes against humanity committed in Congo. To date, the ICC has begun proceedings against three high level officials accused of war crimes, including the recruitment of child soldiers and sexual slavery.
Sources:
International Rescue Committee, 2007
International Crisis Group, 2007
International Amnesty, 2007
International Criminal Court
Background information on DRC
• Population (2004): 58.7 million
• Human Development Index (2007): 168th out of 177 countries
• Gender-related Development Index (2006): 131st out of 177 countries
• GDP per capita (2006): $130
• Life expectancy at birth: 45.8 years
• Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births (2005): 205
• Undernourished population (2001-2003): 72%
• Population not using an improved water source (2004): 54%
• Adult literacy rate (%) (1995-2005): 32.8
• Official Development Assistance (2005): $1,800,000
• Political system: Democratic Republic
Source: Human Development Report, 2007
Maps
- DRC internally displaced persons
Sources: UNHCR and Reliefweb.
The humanitarian response
• United Nations. In 2007, the UN Consolidated Appeal received 67% of the requested funds (686.6 million dollars). In 2006, the number of contributed funds was just 51%.
• Main donors. In 2007, the main donors were United States, the European Commission, United Kingdom and the Central Emergency Response Fund, which in total represented 60.4% of the contributed funds.
• Required funding for 2008. The humanitarian actors estimate that 575.7 million dollars are needed for 2008.
Source: OCHA, Financial Tracking Service
More information
• International Criminal Court – Detailed information on the evolution of the investigation initiated by the International Criminal Court to judge war crimes and crimes against humanity.
• International Rescue Committee Report, “Mortality in the Democratic Republic of Congo. An ongoing crisis”- Information updated in 2007 on the humanitarian crisis in DRC.
• Amnesty International Report, 2007, on the Democratic Republic of Congo – Document that provides information on the human rights situation in the DRC.
• International Crisis Group Report, “Congo: Consolidating the Peace” – Document written in 2007, which presents recommendations to consolidate the process initiated in December 2006 with the celebration of the first democratic elections in 40 years.
The DRC crisis in the HRI
DARA decided to include the DRC crisis once again in the Humanitarian Response Index 2008 because it continues to be the most important humanitarian emergency in the world.
Furthermore, the DRC is a pilot country for the implementation of the Principles of Good Humanitarian Donorship, which requires studying the evolution of the humanitarian practices from year to year.
Other crises assessed in the HRI 2008