CARE responds to women and families targeted in DRC violence

CARE was the first humanitarian agency to deliver relief supplies within the town of Goma during the outbreak of hostilities in October and November, 2008.

In response, CARE provided aid to families who fled the violence in North Kivu, with a particular focus on providing support for the disproportionate number of women-headed households. Distributions included standard emergency supplies such as shelter materials, kitchen utensils, blankets and clothing. CARE distributed emergency supplies to more than 4,000 people in Goma.

The ongoing conflict in DR Congo has created one of the most appalling wars on women in the world. Rape has become a tool of war, spreading HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, destroying families and traumatizing the women who are attacked, and their children who are often witness to this violence or are attacked themselves.

According to the UN, from January to June, 2009, there have been over 2200 reported cases of sexual violence in the province of North Kivu. There are likely many more unreported cases. CARE is involved in a number of projects to combat gender-based violence (GBV) in the DRC:

• Following the latest outbreak of violence around Goma, CARE launched the TUMAINI (“Hope”) Program to build emergency medical and community response to GBV. The project formed community protection clubs to raise awareness and refer victims to the Goma and Rutshuru health centers, and trained medical staff on clinical management of rape and provided them with post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and clean-delivery kits.
• CARE, in partnership with Merlin, launched the BIRAMBIZO project which benefits some 375,000 displaced and resident people in the Birambizo district. The project works with health centers, providing medical staff with training, equipment, and drugs, including PEP kits.
• CARE’s UMOJA (“Solidarity”) pilot project is the first attempt in Goma to assist displaced people by helping them find resident families (350 “solidarity” families) to stay with. CARE has organized and trained community health clubs in two Goma neighborhoods to raise awareness on GBV issues and refer survivors for assistance.
• CARE has been working in Masisi since June, 2009, on a UN-funded project to rehabilitate eight maternity wards and three health centers in Masisi, provide essential equipment and drugs, train staff in emergency obstetric treatment, family planning, and HIV prevention, and promote community mobilization.

You can be a part of CARE's emergency response team by donating today.