*SupportAPDCProtectDRCPeople

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the most impoverished countries in the world. Over 70 percent of the country's population lives below the poverty line and is in dire need of help. Much of the country's current condition is due to its history of constant civil wars, with the worst being the Great Congo Civil Wars between 1996-2003. The period after former dictator Mobutu Sese Seko (one of Africa's most notorious Cold War-era dictators) was deposed plunged the country into nationwide infighting as many of the DRC's corrupt politicians and warlords fought against each other in the power vacuum that was present in the aftermath of Mobutu's departure. The Congo Civil War was so large that many other African nations took part in protecting their own special interests over the DRC's vast mineral resources (it's often considered Africa's "World War"). While politicians and warlords were fighting, the ones who truly suffered were the Congolese people. It's estimated over 5 million people died due to warfare, disease, and neglect. It's the world's most significant tragedy

and atrocity that has occurred since World War II's end. While an uneasy peace agreement was made in 2003 to put an official end to the civil war, fighting still continues in eastern DRC provinces, where many militias are still fighting over the region's mineral resources, particularly for cobalt which is heavily sought after by the world's superpowers. Two such provinces are North Kivu and South Kivu, where fighting between militias such as M23 and the Mai-Mai and the DRC's army has led to mass civilian displacement. This number has reached 6.9 million people in December 2023 according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). This has left many houses burned, women kidnapped and raped (eastern DRC is considered the "rape capital" of the world), children forced into mines or as child soldiers, along with many other atrocities.

 

This is why the work of the nonprofit organization Actions pour la paix et le développement communautaire (APDC) is so important. APDC is an NGO run by local activists and community members in the eastern DRC and they work tirelessly to defend the DRC's most vulnerable residents. Their assistance goes towards children to make sure they receive a proper education instead of being forced into dangerous mines, protect women from rape by providing them safe women-only shelters, and help the elderly and disabled with food and other assistance. APDC also works with indigenous Pygmy peoples. They're a very short people who are the original inhabitants of central Africa and are particularly vulnerable due to their short stature and other physically distinct features. As a result, the Pygmies often face heavy discrimination from other ethnic groups, and militias frequently target them to force them into slavery and work in the mines. APDC works with the Pygmies to get higher legal protection and to secure their land rights. Due to the hard conditions, APDC is often underfunded to deal with the highly insecure and dangerous region they operate in. This is why I'm making this fundraiser, so that they can raise more money to help aid their activities in the eastern DRC, a place that needs much help and support from the wider world.