Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of three countries with the highest rates of infant morality in the world: more children under five die here than in China which has a population twenty three times that of Congo.
In Congo war, hunger, disease cause the death of 600,000 children every day and 1,200 are victims of war. One in every three children in the first year of life has not been vaccinated against measles and 31% of Congo’s children under five is underweight. This is the alarming situation described by UNICEF in a report Child Alert presented London.
The conflict and violence that has consumed the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for nearly a decade has killed more people every six months than were killed by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Estimates place the total deaths at four million, although some experts say the figure is far higher. UNICEF said that as victims, children have defined this often forgotten, but world’s deadliest, humanitarian crisis in the heart of Africa.
Congo is about to hold the first democratic elections in 40 years after 32 years of dictatorship and two wars in the 1990s. Besides arms also hunger and disease kill people forced to abandon their homes and instability present access for aid and basic medical care. To continue emergency assistance and support for city street children UNICEF has appealed for 93.67 million dollars for 2006, and 62% has still to be found. (AP) (26/7/2006 Agenzia Fides; Righe:27; Parole:325)
