Widespread violence has left thousands at risk of life-long disability in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). CBM, as an international disability aid organisation, has continued to work with partners in the DRC throughout the last decade and a half of conflict. 

The war in the DRC has been ongoing since 1995. At its height, it involved at least eight African nations, as well as implicating several western countries. It has been named “Africa’s First World War”, with an estimated five and a half million deaths since the conflict began.

As well as internal wrangling over basic resources and overspill from the genocide in neighbouring Rwanda, the conflict is fuelled by the fact that as one of the world’s richest countries in natural and mineral resources, DRC is of vast political and commercial interest to many countries around the world.

Although peace deals have been struck over the years, and despite a successful democratic election in 2006, war and prolonged social conflict continues in the eastern regions. Indeed, the conflicts in the DRC continue to be the most deadly in the world since World War II; the majority of deaths, however, are from non-violent causes.

Conditions such malaria, diarrhoea, and malnutrition are exacerbated by warfare and the difficulty of accessing medical care. Tragically, estimates suggest that 1,000 people die every day, many from such 'preventable' causes, while many more will go on to develop permanent disabilities.

Now, CBMUK has staged a photographic exhibition to highlight the two separate conflicts playing out in the lives of people in the regions of Ituri and North Kivu. The ‘Conflicts in the Congo’ exhibition went on show at the Michaelhouse Centre, Trinity Street, Cambridge earlier this month.

The photographs are the work of photojournalist and artist Keith McAllister, who took the 30+ images of Eastern DRC in the exhibition. Keith, 28, who grew up in the DRC, travelled back to capture the powerful images, and hopes the exhibition will raise both awareness and funds for those living through the conflict in the DRC.
 
Keith said: “In some ways it’s been tough. It’s a conflict that has gone on for so long. But if the photographs can help to raise money and awareness, you've then contributed to saving thousands of lives.”
 
Nadine Lusi, CBM’s Advocacy Officer, who grew up in DRC, said: “The exhibition has a dual purpose: to raise awareness of two separate conflicts in DRC, and to raise the profile of CBM as an international development organisation that works with partners to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world."

CBM is continuing its ongoing work in the DRC, working with around 30 partners to implement a variety of programmes including healthcare (prevention and cure of impairments), rehabilitation, community based programmes (involvement in rights, access, co-ordination), education, and other mandate areas.

CBM has also been involved in emergency assistance - including emergency surgery (orthopaedic trauma, rape victims), provision of assistive devices, organising mobile clinics in Internally Displaced Persons Camps (Vilo, Sona, Aveba and Soke IDP camps), setting up referral systems, skills training for persons with disabilities, food and non food (medical) item distribution.

CBM UK has two emergency programmes funded in DRC (one through the Scottish Government and the other through the Isle of Man Overseas Aid Committee), and has also raised over £60,000 which will be used to support CBM UK's projects in the region that are offering long term support to these communities.