To flee systematic killings and other dangers, the Congolese are forced to abandon their homes for makeshift camps. These makeshift camps make the spread of disease inevitable, due to close living conditions (i.e. families living only three feet from one another), and lack of clean water, food, and medicine. What makes matters worse, a cholera epidemic which was at first confined to a refugee camp has reached the DR Congo town of Goma. Aide workers now fear that this epidemic will spread even farther than Goma, and affect up to a million Congolese. It was this outbreak that prompted the United Nations to increase their presence in the Congo by 3,000 (which has happened since this article was published). I read a few articles following this one, and was shocked to learn that Congolese "officials" are trying to deny this outbreak, and feel that the increased number of cholera-related deaths in the last few weeks is an exaggeration. Keep in mind, they also have made statements that the entire situation in the Congo has been exaggerated to the international community.
What do you feel the international community can do to combat/offer aide to this cholera epidemic in the midst of the dangerous situation in the Congo?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/11/congo
Also a very good article, written a few days later:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/13/congo-united-nations-peacekeeping-mission
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