Wednesday, December 3, 2008
2nd December 2008
We are back in Goma with rumours of war imminent; traffic jams that rival London rush hour, and the beautiful Lake Kivu to swim in after a long hot day. Most of the day was spent updating Sadiki (Tearfund’s Country Representative for DRC) and partners on our findings so far.
The security situation has deteriorated west of Goma with renewed fighting near a town called Masisi causing more displacements of the local population.
Gary is leaving tomorrow but I will go out with a team to assess the situation over the next few days. Please continue to pray for peace in DRC and for her safety and that of our partners who work courageously under difficult circumstances.
The security situation has deteriorated west of Goma with renewed fighting near a town called Masisi causing more displacements of the local population.
Gary is leaving tomorrow but I will go out with a team to assess the situation over the next few days. Please continue to pray for peace in DRC and for her safety and that of our partners who work courageously under difficult circumstances.
DRC Crisis: Blog 5, 30th November 2008
We have just got back from 4 days in Beni, North Kivu. It was a very special time for us as we were in Beni in 2002 when there was a crisis in the Ituri region and we helped establish our local partner PPSSP. It was fantastic to arrive at the airport after a short hour long flight to be greeted by old friends again. We were also greeted by Albert Baliesema who heads up the Health Department of Province of the Anglican Church (PEAC) in DRC, and with whom I have been implementing an HIV Impact Mitigation pilot project. We were overwhelmed with their kindness and generosity throughout our stay. We visited PPSSP’s offices and were so encouraged to see how they have grown as an organisation since 2002 and are now the foremost local NGO in Beni. We were so proud that Tearfund has been able to partner with such a competent and committed group of Christians and to see all that they had achieved.
On Friday we travelled to the south of Beni to a town called Lubero, together with an assessment team from PPSSP and PEAC. The trip was breathtakingly beautiful, but also backbreaking as the roads were some of the worst we had ever experienced. The population of Lubero has doubled with displaced families from fighting to the south. We visited a Catholic Church in Lubero that was hosting 20 families, all of whom were sleeping on a cold mud floor in an old school building without blankets or mattresses. The church congregation was doing all they could in supplying food and other essentials, but they themselves were hosting many other families in their homes. The local health centre had been so overwhelmed that they no longer had any drugs to provide the displaced who came for treatment. They were also having to treat many survivors of sexual violence, including a 3-year old girl. The partners are hoping to provide some support to the displaced there this week with money provided by Tearfund. We were also introduced to four newly born babies at the church site who were born on the road whilst the displaced were fleeing the fighting. It was encouraging that in the midst of all the suffering there was new life to be celebrated.
On Friday we travelled to the south of Beni to a town called Lubero, together with an assessment team from PPSSP and PEAC. The trip was breathtakingly beautiful, but also backbreaking as the roads were some of the worst we had ever experienced. The population of Lubero has doubled with displaced families from fighting to the south. We visited a Catholic Church in Lubero that was hosting 20 families, all of whom were sleeping on a cold mud floor in an old school building without blankets or mattresses. The church congregation was doing all they could in supplying food and other essentials, but they themselves were hosting many other families in their homes. The local health centre had been so overwhelmed that they no longer had any drugs to provide the displaced who came for treatment. They were also having to treat many survivors of sexual violence, including a 3-year old girl. The partners are hoping to provide some support to the displaced there this week with money provided by Tearfund. We were also introduced to four newly born babies at the church site who were born on the road whilst the displaced were fleeing the fighting. It was encouraging that in the midst of all the suffering there was new life to be celebrated.
DRC Crisis Blog 4
Yesterday we went to a camp where almost 14,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are living. At first it seems that their needs are well covered; the camp looks organised, the shelters, although small and extremely basic, at least have plastic sheeting, and there is a market in the centre of the camp. Some of the IDPs have been here for 2 years, as a result of DRC’s ongoing conflicts. There’s been a huge wave of new IDPs in the last couple of months, which has swelled the numbers.
Around 60% of the families are headed by women. Once in the camp, the women are still not necessarily safe. In order to make their shelters and find fuel, they have to go to the forest to find wood. We came across a small girl, Cherie, aged around 2 years old, sitting on the ground eating from a bowl. Her mother had gone to collect wood a week ago and had never returned. General Nkunde’s troops are in the forest and kidnap women, raping them or taking them into the army. No one knows what happened to Cherie’s mother, and it is likely that they never will. Now she is being looked after by her father, and neighbours who help to care for her.
Around 60% of the families are headed by women. Once in the camp, the women are still not necessarily safe. In order to make their shelters and find fuel, they have to go to the forest to find wood. We came across a small girl, Cherie, aged around 2 years old, sitting on the ground eating from a bowl. Her mother had gone to collect wood a week ago and had never returned. General Nkunde’s troops are in the forest and kidnap women, raping them or taking them into the army. No one knows what happened to Cherie’s mother, and it is likely that they never will. Now she is being looked after by her father, and neighbours who help to care for her.
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