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ECC: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

QUNO’s work on DRC:

The most recent conflict in the DRC, beginning in 1998, is considered the world’s deadliest since World War II in which an estimated 4 million Congolese lost their lives and hundreds of thousands remain internally displaced in the east. Today the prospect for peace is growing and can be made durable if progress continues. The DRC is proving its ability to clear many of the enormous hurdles remaining from the war and set the tone for stability in the entire region. Elections were held for the first time in forty years in November 2006. This transition period has been strongly supported by the international community who provided financial and technical support for the elections and established the UN peacekeeping operation (MONUC). MONUC is working to minimize violent conflict, train and integrate the national army (FADRC) and protect civilians. Nevertheless, ongoing fighting and instability in eastern DRC shows that there is no guarantee that the present situation will not relapse into war. For these reasons, the time is now for the international community to bolster progress made and prevent further conflict.

Quakers living in eastern DRC are hopeful that progress will continue in order to create an environment where good governance can flourish and where people feel safe and protected. In order to make this happen, QUNO calls on the international community to continue to help the Congolese people establish stability and prosperity.

QUNO is working in partnership with NGOs at the UN to highlight the need for continued humanitarian assistance and protection, by:

• engaging with the international community to support the process of nation-building
• assisting the international community in its coordination of policy to reduce the threat of armed conflict and violence against civilians, especially those living in eastern DRC
• calling on UN agencies and the Security Council to guarantee a peaceful return home of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and ensure the complete reintegration of ex combatants into communities