Sometimes it is easy to forget about what is happening in other parts of the world

I read this article on CNN.com. 5 million. 5 million. Can't say more than that.

Here's a bit

Report: Congo conflict claims 5 million lives

(CNN) -- Hopes are high that the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and armed groups can end a decade of fighting that a new report says has claimed the lives of more than 5 million people.

The two sides have been attending a conference for more than two weeks in the eastern city of Goma and late Tuesday, they appeared close to signing an agreement. Their discussions are focusing on peace for the country's eastern Kivu provinces.

Humanitarian group, the International Rescue Committee, released a report Wednesday saying that conflict and humanitarian crisis in Congo have taken the lives of some 5.4 million people since 1998, and that 45,000 people continue to die there every month.

IRC President George Rupp said the loss of life was equivalent to the entire population of Denmark, or the state of Colorado, dying within a decade.

Even with the country's violence, the IRC found that most of the deaths were from non-violent causes like malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia, and malnutrition.

Nearly half the deaths were among children younger than 5, even though they are only 19 percent of the population, the IRC said.