In 1998 war broke out in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Within six weeks six other countries had been drawn into the conflict and scores of militias had sprung up in a battle for resources and regional power. By May 2003 most foreign troops had been withdrawn but dozens of militias remained. Countless millions of people have been displaced, denied an education or access to health care. As many as four million people have lost their lives. IRIN's principal role is to provide news and analysis about sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia for the humanitarian community. The network targets decision-makers in relief agencies, host and donor governments, human-rights organizations, humanitarian advocacy groups, academic institutions and the media. At the same time, IRIN strives to ensure that affected communities can also access reliable information, so they can take informed decisions about their future. IRIN (Integrated Regional Information Networks) is part of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs , but its services are editorially independent. Its reports do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations and its agencies, nor its member states. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, IRIN was founded in 1995 to improve the flow of vital information to those involved in relief efforts in the Great Lakes region following the 1994 Rwandan genocide. IRIN's area of geographical coverage has increased steadily since then. So too, have the range of subjects covered and the number of services offered. The core news and analysis service is distributed free of charge to via the official website www.IRINnews.org.

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