Over 10 years of civil war and rebel activity have devastated the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The east African country is one of the poorest and most insecure in the world.

The conflict first started in 1994, when Hutu soldiers sought sanctuary in the DRC after their involvement in the Rwandan genocide.

This was what brought ActionAid to the country. Since then armies from neighbouring Rwanda, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Angola have all been involved in the DRC’s troubles. Despite a peace agreement signed in 2002 there is ongoing insecurity in the region.

Honorene is ten years old. Sitting on the floor of a small shelter for abused women in the northeastern town of Goma, she explains how she has ended up here.

“I was visiting my aunt when fighting broke out. Soldiers broke into her house, waving their guns,” she says. “I ran outside and hid but a soldier – he came and found me. And then he raped me and then another one came and he did the same. I was really scared. After they left I couldn’t find my aunt...” Her voice trails off as she searches for the strength to continue.

“I heard about this place in Goma where a woman would help me, so I went to the port and begged a place on a boat to come and find her,” Honorene explains. “The woman at the centre took me for treatment but I wasn’t tested for HIV because the test was too expensive and we needed to buy food for other people living in this house.”

The house Honorene is referring to is a shelter run by ActionAid partner Maode (Mothers’ Organisation for Development), a simple place that consists of five small wooden huts, each housing up to 12 women and their children. Shelter is also provided for 132 orphans. “I didn’t think things would ever get much better. I thought the war would always find me,” Honorene says quietly. “But I feel safer now that I am in this house.”

Another ActionAid partner, the Anti-AIDS Volunteers’ Team (EVAS) provides help and counselling for people living with HIV. “We have provided Stepping Stones training (ActionAid’s HIV education programme) to their councillors and also help them provide food to people who are too sick to look after themselves,” says Edward Kakande.

No study has been done in eastern DRC to show how widespread HIV or AIDS are. The World Health Organisation, however, estimates that at least 54% of women admitted to Bukavu’s general hospital are HIV-positive.

Feza Mbutire has been part of the EVAS association for nearly two years. Attacked and raped by rebel soldiers one day on her way to market, she and her four children were rejected by her husband when he found out she had contracted HIV.

“When I think of my disease I also think of fear,” she says. “I am not ashamed of it because it was not my fault, but I also know that I will die. I am so worried for my children that once I am gone they will have nobody and no care – nothing. But at least now I know the group will try and look after them,” she adds, gesturing around her. “It is a good place for me to come and talk about my illness and this can make it less lonely.”

“Now here at the centre they help me with food for my children,” she explains. “I don’t feel so hopeless anymore. Things are getting better.”