Amnesty International welcomes the news that the Australian Federal Government will contribute an additional $4 million worth of humanitarian aid to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This boosts Australia's total contribution to $5 million. Read the letter (PDF 45kb) our national director Claire Mallinson has written to the Foreign Minister Stephen Smith thanking the government for its "strong and timely contribution" to the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the Congo.

You can also read our earlier letter to the government calling on it to do all it can - including increasing its financial contribution - to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in the country.

Thanks to all our members and supporters who added their names to the letter to the Minister.

The situation in DRC remains highly volatile. An Amnesty International research mission is headed to the region shortly, to gather testimonies from refugees and assess the severity of the situation.

Related links

  • Read our latest report on the DRC: “North Kivu: No end to war on women and children”

  • Read the letter (PDF 45kb) our national director Claire Mallinson sent to the Foreign Minister Stephen Smith thanking the government for its "strong and timely contribution" to the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the Congo.

  • Read our earlier letter to the government calling on it to do all it can to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in the country.