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Experts are concerned that rape attacks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are causing the rate of HIV infection to rise.
Stephen Bowen, campaigns director of rights group Amnesty International said: "Rape in eastern DRC is a human rights and a health crisis. Countless women and girls are in desperate need of treatment, but no organised or comprehensive response has been developed to assist them."
It is estimated that over 40,000 women and girls were raped by soldiers during the six-year civil war, which is still being fought in the eastern part of the country.
Although a peace agreement was signed last year, there have since been two attempted coups and militias continue to attack and rape civilians.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions