Christian Aid is extremely concerned by the recent escalation of violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which is threatening to plunge the country back into war.
An estimated 200,000 people have fled their homes in the past two months to escape fighting between government troops, UN peacekeepers and rebel forces in north and south Kivu, close to the Rwandan border.
With the situation worsening daily, Christian Aid and our local partners are carefully monitoring the situation but are continuing to support local families to earn vital incomes even through these insecure times.
A fragile peace
In 1998 a brutal war broke out in the DRC lasting five long years. More than five million people were left dead and an estimated two million people forced from their homes.
In 2003 a peace deal was struck which led to the signing of a new constitution but the peace, which has always been fragile, seems to have broken down in eastern DRC.
UK government must act
Christian Aid believes the UK government has a vital and unique role to play in securing peace for DRC and the wider region.
The UK is a major financial donor to the DRC and to Rwanda and must use its considerable influence to bring everyone involved in the conflict back to the negotiating table to implement the existing peace agreement and prevent further humanitarian disaster.