After more than two decades of violence, many children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have only known war.

A surge in violence across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has forced more than 300,000 people to flee their homes in 2018 alone. There are now more than 4 million Congolese displaced as a result of the violence.

On top of the ongoing conflict, droughts due to El Nino have left more than 7 million people without enough food to feed their families. Epidemics of cholera and measles have exacerbated the dire living conditions.

CARE is working closely with some of the most vulnerable communities, providing drinking water and nutritious food, as well as medical assistance to women and girls who are survivors of gender-based violence.

Fast Facts

Population: 83.30 million
Life expectancy: 57.7 years (56.1 years male, 59.3 years female) (2017 est.)
Infant mortality: 68.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)
Under-5 mortality*: 94.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
Maternal mortality: 693 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
Adult literacy rate: : 77% (88.5% male, 66.5% female) (2016 est.)
Access to improved drinking water: 52.4% (81.1% urban, 31.2% rural)
Access to improved sanitation: 28.7% (28.5% urban, 28.7% rural)
Percentage of seats held by women in national parliament^: 8.9%
GDP per capita: $800 (2017 est.)

Source: CIA World Factbook, *UNICEF, ^World Bank

CARE is providing critical support

CARE has already reached 47,000 people in desperate need, and is aiming to reach 800,000 more.

Much of our work in DRC has been supporting women who have endured gender-based violence. As is always the case during emergencies, women and girls become increasingly vulnerable to violence and assault.

CARE trains medical professionals to help counsel those affected by violence, and runs education sessions with men as well as women, to help reduce and prevent incidents of gender-based violence.

“I tell people, if there is a case of gender violence, it’s better to go to the hospital within three days in order to be treated.”

Marie is a community mobiliser trained by CARE to spread the word on accessing confidential services for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in DRC.

Donate now

Support our ongoing work to create a more equal world.

Your donation can help end extreme poverty and give people the means to build a better future for themselves in countries like DRC.

For those living in extreme poverty, your support brings education and training, healthcare and clean water, nutritious food, and new ways to earn an income. And in times of crisis, you help us deliver emergency relief. Please donate today.

Learn more about our ongoing impact in DRC:

• Training men and women in eastern Congo to prevent sexual violence
• Rape as a weapon of war: Jollie’s story
• Raymond’s story: Humanitarian work in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

More CARE evaluation reports from DRC and other countries are available at CARE’s Electronic Evaluation Library.

Banner image ©Carey Wagner/CARE