(Image: © CMS)
In his own words, the Rev Desire Mukanirwa Kadorho, the Anglican Church’s project development officer at Goma, reports from a recent trip to assess the post-war situation around Rutshuru
Rutshuru is predominantly known as an agricultural region, whereas Masisi is a pastoral region and Goma is the headquarters of the whole North Kivu province, a volcanic town.
These territories are the ones feeding the entire country of DR Congo and its neighbours with food, milk and meat. But because of lasting war in the region things have been scarce and difficult.
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Recently, in February, an Anglican church team led by the Rev Desire left Goma and went to Rutshuru area purposely to assess the situation after the war, and then brought about holistic comfort to victims of the war and more especially for both women and children in terms of spiritual and material assistance.
We must remember that this region has been under a severe fighting. Hundreds of thousands of civilians lost their lives including massacre of people, and other horrible atrocities. Because of that, there is nowadays an increase of widows, orphans, raped young girls and women, with sexual transmissible disease such as HIV, as consequences of the war.
What was also observed in this area is that many people were looted from their properties indoors, and churches and schools and other infrastructures were also destroyed.
Because of that havoc, there are no domestic rearing animals at homes like chicken, goats, sheep, cows. All were taken up and eaten by militias. People are now under serious trauma, desperate famine, hunger and mass poverty.
The victims who have been abused ended up having unwanted babies with no care at all until now. Because of that, some have been chased out from their households.
During our visit we eventually sensed at least a sign of peace coming, as there is now a joint military action from both Rwanda and DR Congo governments, which is very appreciated and encouraging. People can sleep in their homes with no fear. This is a good development.
However, there are still some internally displaced people in camps. We managed to visit them and we felt many sufferings in victims’ life. There is starvation in this camp at Rutshuru. These people have not gone back yet to their respective residences, because they fear any unexpected retaliation from somewhere, because they came from very far in the remote areas where Interahamwe groups are still based.
During our conversation with many returnees who are now back home, we noted some felt needs in their lives, [such as] having agricultural tools like hoes, machetes/pangas and seeds to resume the work in their garden for getting food, and income.
This area is also [suitable for] cash crops like cacao, vanilla, coffee, moringa. They need also some other equipment for the kitchen such as saucepans, plates, jerry cans, basins, for their household’s needs.
In brief, there is still something to be done for these victims of the war in terms of the social and economic arena but also moral and cultural action, seminars and conferences on peace, justice and reconciliation, conflict resolution, cohabitation, forgiveness, counselling, etc, to heal the wounds of trauma and establish a peaceful environment amongst communities.
But above all, much prayer and also material assistance are actually needed. The minimum of one dollar can rescue one life.
We would like therefore heartedly express all our thanks for all the endeavours and generosity made in a special way on behalf of the IDPs within and around Goma and for the DR Congo people, and may our heavenly God bless you.
Let us continue to press on.
The Rev Desire Mukanirwa Kadorho
Projects Development Officer at Goma
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