CongoThe Quiet Crisis

The Democratic Republic of Congo (or DR Congo), formerly known as Zaire, was embroiled in a civil war that began in mid-1997 and lasted until mid-2003. Now, more than five years later, the civilian population is still feeling the effects of the conflict. To determine the extent of the humanitarian crisis, from January, 2006 to April, 2007 the International Rescue Committee (or IRC) conducted a mortality survey. Mortality surveys are conducted to determine how many people are dying and why.

100%

0%

ViolenceInfectious Diseases and Malnutrition

Of those deaths recorded by the IRC, only 0.4% (or 4 in 1,000) were caused directly by violence. The overwhelming majority of deaths were caused by infectious diseases and malnutrition. And, as of yet, few famous persons have spoken out about the humanitarian crisis occurring. As a result, the situation in DR Congo remains a “quiet crisis.”

40%

7% 9%10%

34%

Fever/malariaDiarrheaMeaslesRespiratory-tract infectionsOther

Fever/malaria, diarrhea, measles, and respiratory-tract infections are easily preventable and highly treatable illnesses. However, together they caused more than 60% of all deaths.

66%

34%

Fever/malariaOther

Fever/malaria alone caused 34% of all deaths.

81%

19%

Children < 5Adults

53%47%

Children were drastically over-represented in the survey: Although only about one in five persons in DR Congo is a child under the age of 5, nearly one-half of all those who died were children.

120 per hour2,880 per day

20,160 per week86,400 per month

1,036,800 per year

In Africa, a child dies from malaria every 30 seconds. And when we extrapolate the data, malariaʼs impact on the children of Africa is staggering. Animation: Fade in one by one.

The good news is that malaria is easily preventable and highly treatable. Insecticide-treated bed nets are not only effective but also economical.

thehungersite.comThrough The Hunger Site and its sister sites in the GreaterGood Network, you can purchase bed nets for persons at risk of contracting malaria in Haiti and parts of Africa.

malarianomore.orgYou can also donate bed nets through the organization Malaria No More. Your $10 donation will go to (1) purchasing one long-lasting, insecticide-treated bed net; (2) transporting and distributing the bed net to the African country where it is needed most; (3) educating the recipient on how to use the bed net properly; and (4) supporting Malaria No Moreʼs comprehensive malaria elimination strategies.

$10 US is not a lot of money to you or me. But it could mean the difference between life and death for a child in Africa. So ask yourself, “Would I be willing to give up . . . two gourmet coffee beverages at Starbucks . . . if it meant I could save a childʼs life?”

“Would I be willing to give up . . . a trip to the movies?”

“Or would I be willing to give up . . . an album on iTunes?”

Pssst! Do something!

I leave you with these words from Matthew 25:31-46 (The Message):