Eastern Congo crisis update and our response
What we know today...(12.5.2022)
The crisis in Eastern Congo continues, with a conditional cease-fire in place, there had been hope that peace would be around the corner. However, fighting has continued and though it has only been 5 days since the agreed-upon cease-fire, reports of violent clashes just 70 miles from Goma and a massacre of 50 civilians, are coming in.
Things could change at any time for those in Goma. M23 is moving on the city again and is getting closer every day. With this move comes an exponential increase in displaced people fleeing the fighting. As of the end of November, close to 340,000 people have been displaced because of this conflict.
D.R. Congo already houses more displaced people than any other African nation and this is now taking its toll. With many of the roads blocked because of the fighting, the supply chain to and from the region has been disrupted and prices for everything have skyrocketed. Many Goma residents are facing the loss of a job and are carrying the huge weight of the growing cost to continue living in the city.
Our response:
As an organization, we employ and are responsible for 188 staff. We first planned to evacuate the staff and their families if the rebels were to take over the city. The buses were ready and many families had their bags packed. After a couple of days of intense rain (as is normal for this season), we found that the roads out of the city would not be driveable for our buses, and evacuating our staff was no longer an option.
As the situation is ever-changing, sometimes hourly, we are learning to respond accordingly. As an organization, we continually go to the Lord to pray and ask for his direction as to what our response will be.
We initially felt led to care for our staff in a couple of ways. First, we wanted to ensure each staff family would receive a “Living Kit” which consisted of a month's worth of rice, beans, cooking oil, flour, sugar, powdered milk, salt, canned tomatoes, and medical supplies in case the pharmacies closed. Second, we secured two months of salaries for each staff member in advance so they would not be faced with a lack of finances if the banks closed or we needed to close the school and programs for a time. This was to give our staff the peace of mind they so desperately needed and this week those kits were distributed.
The crisis and threat of war had already taken a toll on our staff and their families. Being able to give them something to help sustain them through this has changed everything. Families have called to say they did not know what they would eat the next day and possibly that evening. One couple prayed that morning that the Lord would remember them and if they should continue fasting but God provided! We knew that in order to take care of the refugees we needed to first ensure our staff was taken care of so they could focus fully on the many tasks at hand. There is now enough to help get them through this emergency.
With over 45,000 people displaced within a short distance of our city, we have responded by feeding the hungry and doing what we can to support those who have little to nothing. This next week we will provide food to 18,000 people with funds already raised. We will ensure that each person and family has what they need, even just for a few days. Initially, we wanted to provide 750 families with food and supplies for a month, but those serving the camps advised us that this could cause problems, as some would receive and some would not. As we are not a humanitarian organization, we were unaware of the best practices in a crisis like this, but we are humans who carry compassion for others. So we sought the advice of people with more experience and changed our plans to serve those in need. Our goal is to continually provide for them through our medical emergency fund. Feeding everyone for a short period is better than feeding only some for a longer period.
In a crisis situation, it's important to be flexible and willing to adapt. Our team has been incredible at staying nimble in order to bring aid to those in need.
We are also working with our entrepreneurs on setting up community kitchens, and temporary schools, and bringing food and supplies to the displaced.
How you can help:
Pray. I do believe that the M23 rebels have been held off by the soldiers and by prayers. Let’s continue to pray and believe that this situation will change, that the people will not continue to suffer, and that God will provide for all their needs in the midst of this crisis. Join our prayer team here.
Get the word out. Though the international community is slowly becoming aware of these atrocities, the response to intervene has been minimal. There are many crises around the world and Congo is too often overlooked. We are asking you to share the story to help change the trajectory of the situation. As more people hear of the crisis and as more people pray, we believe we will see a compassionate response and powerful solutions in the midst of this terrible crisis.
Give. There are so many people with nothing, they fled for their lives and are living in an unimaginably harrowing situation. Any amount given will help, from one day of food to opportunities for children to learn in safety. We are doing all we can to take care of those in need and by giving, you help make that possible.