![Refugees gather at a makeshift camp near Kibati, 12 km north of the provincial capital of Goma, October 29, 2008 [REUTERS/Stringer, courtesy www.alertnet.org]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/dr-congo/images/refugees-who-fled-fighting/934156-2-eng-GB/refugees-who-fled-fighting_0column50_04space_landscape.jpg)
![CAFOD supported communities with seeds, tools and training to help local people move home and reintegrate in Northern Uganda [CAFOD]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/uganda/images/move-home-and-reintegrate/945382-1-eng-GB/move-home-and-reintegrate_0column50_04space_landscape.jpg)
![More than 700 campaigners rallied before delivering anti-poverty messages to every EU embassy in London [CAFOD]](/var/storage/images/media_folder/cafod/images/campaign_images/trade_justice_campaign_images/embassy_bus/199633-2-eng-GB/embassy_bus_0column50_04space_landscape.jpg)
![Fatna (right) brings home wood that she and some neighbours have harvested from outside the camp in Kubum, south Darfur [Paul Jeffery/ACT/Caritas]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/sudan/images/fatna-right-brings-home-wood/247664-2-eng-GB/fatna-right-brings-home-wood_0column50_04space_landscape.jpg)
![Niccollette and Shrirvanie film the aftermath of the Guyanan floods, with support from CAFOD partner Guyana Human Rights Association [CAFOD]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/what-we-do/communications/images/after-guyana-floods/679742-1-eng-GB/after-guyana-floods_0column50_04space_landscape.jpg)
Key challenges
![Poor communities should benefit from the wealth that they are surrounded by, rather than being damaged by extractive industries [Richard Wainwright]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/d-r-congo/images/miners-at-work/54555-2-eng-GB/miners-at-work_1column50_12space_landscape.jpg)
Conflict, poverty, hunger, and the economy are all affecting development in the DRC
Conflict
Fighting has left appalling levels of hunger, disease and death, and countless abuses of human rights.
Poverty and hunger
More than one-third of the population has critical food needs. In the capital, Kinshasa, a growing number of people eat only once every two or three days. Severe malnutrition rates among children under five.
Economy
DRC is one of the poorest countries - and one of the most in debt - in Africa. It is eleventh from the bottom of the UNDP Human Development Index.
However the country has vast mineral deposits, including diamonds, copper and cobalt.
![Refugees gather at a makeshift camp near Kibati, 12 km north of the provincial capital of Goma, October 29, 2008 [REUTERS/Stringer, courtesy www.alertnet.org]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/dr-congo/images/refugees-gather/937752-1-eng-GB/refugees-gather_0column75_06space_landscape.jpg)
Give to the Congo Crisis Appeal
Make a donation to help those affected by renewed fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo - please support our charity work there. A gift from you really will make a difference to thousands of people
![Refugees gather at a makeshift camp near Kibati, 12 km north of the provincial capital of Goma, October 29, 2008 [REUTERS/Stringer, courtesy www.alertnet.org]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/dr-congo/images/refugees-who-fled-fighting/934156-2-eng-GB/refugees-who-fled-fighting_0column75_06space_landscape.jpg)
