MSF Focus on Democratic Republic of Congo

MSF directly supports local health services and centres. We support the national HIV/AIDS program, which is implemented by the country's health authorities. Our teams work on improving access to screening and treatment, reinforcing treatment adherence, and patient retention. A community-based program manages the distribution of antiretroviral (ARV) medication to stabilised patients.

The MSF sleeping sickness mobile team in northern Bandundu Province use dugout canoes (called pirogues) to access remote communities. © Meldrum / MSF

Sexual and Reproductive Health

Sexual violence is a major issue in DRC, affecting men and boys as well as women and girls. We provide medical and psychological support. We also support family planning activities, provide antenatal and postnatal consultations, and treat patients for sexually transmitted diseases.

Emergency and Mobile healthcare

Emergency response is a core activity for MSF. Several teams are dedicated to monitoring health alerts and deploying a rapid response to outbreaks of violence, population displacement and epidemics across this vast country.

With the goal of guaranteeing adequate healthcare, MSF teams distribute relief kits, run mobile clinics, manage health promotion, and organise water and sanitation activities within communities and for displaced people.

MSF teams work in North and South Kivu, Kasai, Ituri and Tanganyika, among other areas.

Speaking out Case Study

Rwandan Refugee Camps in Zaire and Tanzania 1994-1995

Following the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, nearly 2 million ethnic Hutus fled across the border into eastern DRC, as well as Tanzania and Burundi, where they settled in large refugee camps. Humanitarian access to the camps was severely limited, or outright denied; and refugees were subjected to targeted armed attacks by Rwandan and Burundian armies, as well as the AFDL (Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo) forces.

MSF tried to provide aid to both refugees and local populations caught in the fighting. These teams came face to face with the AFDL’s and the Rwandan army’s bloody methods, which included using humanitarian organisations as a lure to draw refugees out of hiding.

In the years since the atrocity, MSF released a detailed case study, highlighting the dilemmas that emerge from humanitarian involvement in conflict situations. The report outlines the decision for MSF staff to speak out.