Over 1,000 people are dying every day as a result of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to a new report from the International Rescue Committee. Almost 4 million people have died in the last 6 years, making this the deadliest conflict since the Second World War

Armed groups in the eastern regions of DRC need to be disarmed before it will be possible to rebuild health, water and sanitation services vital to saving thousands of lives. The vast majority of deaths since 2003 have been from easily preventable diseases, occurring mostly in the eastern regions where insecurity is greatest. The report estimates that the extremely high death rates in the eastern regions are entirely due to insecurity and violence.

Gun sales to neighbouring countries such as Rwanda, which are known to be supporting armed groups within DRC, must stop immediately. The Control Arms campaign is calling for an international arms trade treaty to stop arms sales which would facilitate human rights abuses. Support the campaign: click here to join the Million Faces petition.