Page 9 - BUREKA PHOTOBOOK

HISTORY

Of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the largest and most geologically di-

verse countries in the world, with unparalleled biodiversity, located between the

Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Nyiragongo volcano to the east.

Its rivers and jungles are home to a diverse population of humans, wildlife and

natural resources, all of which have been a source of fascination and greed for

the Western world since the 15th century when Portuguese Sailors discovered the

mouth of the Congo River and ushered in the colonial era.

Five hundred years of turbulence - including slavery, human rights abuses - have

resulted in a weakened and destabilized country.

Agricultural land that has not been destroyed by erosion is difficult to access and,

in places, vulnerable to violent attacks by armed groups; food security is giving

way to famine and malnutrition; clean water is hard to find; and preventable dis-

eases continue to spread.

Building Recovery For Kasai (BUREKA) - 9