The United Nations is reporting that there were over 8,000 rapes reported last year in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs released an email today saying most rapes happened in the eastern Kivu provinces where armed government forces are battling rebel forces.
Over 1 million people were forced to move near Kivu following fighting between the Congolese army, which is supported by the UN and the Rwandan rebel group, The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, noted for their affiliation with the Rwanda genocide that killed 800,000 people.
It is estimated that 160 women are raped every week.
