Ngos: Rape in DRC Has Reached Epidemic Proportions

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Soldiers, UN peacekeepers retreat as rebel forces advance in Congo

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By Miriam Mannak

The wave of rape and sexual violence that is sweeping through the north eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reached epidemic proportions, various aid organisations say. Furthermore, the intensifying of the violence together with more parties getting involved in the civil conflict, is putting tens of thousands more women and young girls at risk.

Rape is nothing new in the DRC, where it has been used to torture and humiliate women and girls, while destroying families since 1996. But with the intensifying of  the violence this year, rape statistics have shot up too. According to the United Nations (UN), in the first six months of 2008,  3,500 women and girls were raped and subjected to other sexual violent acts in one province alone. That is nearly 400 a month.

The UN suspects the real figure to be much higher as  many rape cases are not being reported. For instance when the woman or girl child is killed or dies afterwards, when the victim is simply too afraid of what might happen when she reports the crime, or when she is simply too scarred or embarrassed to tell her story.

According the CARE, the ongoing conflict in DRC has created one of the most appalling wars on women in recent history. "Rape has become a tool of war, spreading HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases," the organizations says on its website. "Rape is used to destroy families and traumatize the women who are attacked, and their children who are often witness to this violence or are attacked themselves." Some women, decide to speak pout about what happened to them. Lumo Furaha is one of them. Her testimony, which can be found on the UN's website, leaves nothing to the imagination. “.... Over 50 armed men took me and another woman to the bush where they raped us over and over again," she is quoted. " After, they pulled us like goats to the main road where they left us abandoned.  Luckily, we were found by some men and eventually I was taken to the Goma hospital where I have had nine surgeries, but yet to be fixed.  Now, despite not having recovered I am hoping for a brighter future.  I hope telling my story will help give me that brighter future."