HOPE FOR CONGO
In partnership with RAISE Hope for Congo and Falling Whistles.

What you should know about Congo
The conflict in eastern Congo, the deadliest in the world since World War II, is being fueled by a multi-million dollar trade in minerals that go into our electronic products from cell phones to digital cameras.

•Tin – used inside your cell phone and all electronic products as a solder on circuit boards. 53% of tin worldwide is used as a solder, the vast majority of which goes into electronics. Armed groups earn approximately $85 million per year from trading in tin.
•Tantalum (often called “coltan”)– used to store electricity in capacitors in iPods, digital cameras, and cell phones. 65-80% of the world’s tantalum is used in electronic products. Armed groups earn an estimated $8 million per year from trading in tantalum.
•Tungsten – used to make your cell phone or Blackberry vibrate. Tungsten is a growing source of income for armed groups in Congo, with armed groups currently earning approximately $2 million annually.

FACTS ABOUT CONGO
400,000 Congolese have fled their homes due to violence in 2008.
500,000 Number of Congolese that die each year as a consequence of war.
1,100 Number of rape cases reported every month.
46 The average life expectancy for a woman living in the DR of the Congo.
22 Number of armed groups involved in the 2008 ceasefire agreement.
1 Number of times women are mentioned in the ceasefire agreement.
0 Number of times sexual violence and rape is mentioned in the ceasefire agreement.
$144 million Yearly profits by armed groups from trade in Congo minerals.

Information provided by ENOUGH Project. Photos courtesy of Andrew McGregor