Kinshasa, - The African Union has started sending qualified African health workers to areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo affected by the latest Ebola outbreak to hit the continent. They are seasoned veterans as some of them were also involved in the outbreak and, by Aesha Karim. Editors Jenna Thurley. What is known as a “silent genocide” is taking place in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This term is used to highlight the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis which has received relatively little international attention relative to its scale and severity. The crisis in the DRC. Another environmental impact of cobalt mining in Congo is the foggy air that surrounds the mines, full of dust and gravel, and toxic to breathe. Studies have shown that the risk of birth defects, such as limb defects and spina bifida, increased significantly when a parent worked in a cobalt mine, linked to high levels of toxic pollution caused by the pollution. The Tshikapa River was seriously polluted by a mine leak. Photo: Keep Smiling With the lack of natural springs in Tshikapa and the remoteness of the Congo River, limited access to drinking water for the population has become a huge problem. Enter Keep Smiling, a nonprofit organization tackling the DRC's water crisis. The Democratic Republic of Congo The DRC has the longest land border in sub-Saharan Africa, spanning a total length of 512 meters. The border was first demarcated during the 19th century scramble for Africa by European colonial powers. In total, nine countries share a land border with the Democratic Republic of Congo; News and press releases in English on the Democratic Republic of Congo regarding health, protection and human rights and more published by the ICRC