Congo: Conflict and Consequences

After more than 40 years of civil wars and dictatorship, this vast Central African nation was left in ruins. Nearly 4 million people have died between 1998-2004, with 1,200 people dying each day. The majority of deaths were resulted from preventable disease rather than directly from war violence. Malaria, diarrhea, respiratory infections and malnutrition topped the list, as a result of health services either being cut off because of the war or reduced because of limited access.