By Prensa Latina
United Nations : Renowned South African singer Miriam Makeba, UN Food and Agriculture Organization goodwill ambassador since 1999, visits the Democratic Republic of Congo to help rape victims and their relatives.
A release from the UN agency says during her four-day stay, Makeba will tour small agricultural projects run by women victims of sexual attacks.
The FAO supplies those women seeds, tools and training to nourish their families, but Makeba says they deal with a triple burden: psychological, social and psychic.
Women are responsible for the survival of 80 percent of families in the DR Congo, but despite their crucial role they are frequent victims of rape and sexual abuse, added the veteran South African activist.
Makeba termed the systematic rape of women the worst event of the complex emergency affecting Central Africa: North Kivu reported 27,000 cases in 2006.
She also regretted that, despite the vast economic potential, 70 percent of the population is threatened by rising food insecurity and malnutrition.
The experienced diplomat informed that 3.5 million people have died in the past 20 years victims of violence, hunger and disease.
Makeba, winner of the 1986 Dag Hammarskj ld Peace Award, called this visit an opportunity to strengthen international commitment to innocents that suffer hunger and pledged to promote their access to key resources to plant hope for a better life.