Caritas is distributing food, clothes, household items and toiletries and is giving psychological support to people uprooted by the violence between the rebels and Government in eastern Congo.

Congo’s bishops have said the situation there has the hallmarks of a "silent genocide".

Hunger, disease and rape are just some of the dangers facing hundreds of thousands of people in North Kivu.

Learn more about the crisis in eastern Congo: Q &A. 

Meanwhile, Christmastime massacres by Ugandan rebels have devastated communities in northern Congo (see below).


   
Emergency appeal

Caritas initially launched an emergency appeal to raise US$1.5 million to help 90,000 people,but has since asked for a further US$4 million to help many more people made homeless by the ongoing violence.  

There is a grave risk of sexual violence against women in the current unrest. Watch a video about how Caritas offers these women support.

"Lakeisha is 52 years old, has 4 children and comes from Masisi. She is an IDP and was on her way to Goma when she and her daughter were raped by men in military uniforms," writes a Caritas aid worker. Read his blog.

Pray for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Unrest in northern Congo

Meanwhile, Caritas is helping 10,000 families in northern Congo following Christmastime massaces by Ugandan rebels.

Tens of thousands of people have been uprooted in the north over the past few months, trying to escape Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels who are hacking their way across the countryside, going from village to village and from home to home. Read more… 

Caritas is appealing for funds to provide urgently needed help to those who have fled their homes. Read more…