Update: Eastern Congo Crisis

It has been a long few months since the onset of the crisis in Eastern Congo.

The hope was that it would be a temporary situation where the government and international community would bring the turmoil to a halt and life would return to normal. That children could attend school again, adults would return to work, and the rhythm of the community and the positive transformation of the people would continue. 

However, after a short ceasefire, the violence and turmoil have resumed. 

In the last few months, there have been multiple civilian massacres, a church bombing, as well as kidnappings. All while thousands continue to flee the advancing M23. Currently, the displaced within the country is the highest in Africa totaling 5.8 million (over 500,000 just since November) and that number continues to grow. 

In the midst of the unknown.

A few weeks ago Africa New Day co-founder, Esther Ntoto, was advised not to return to Congo (she was in the United States for a memorial) as an uptick in violence and protests ransacked the city the week she was scheduled to arrive. She was told that if the situation turned for the worse she would be seen as a threat and could be targeted. The school went into emergency mode and evacuated all the students and staff. The people are angry. Angry that the UN, the foreign armies, and the international community are doing nothing to stop the rebels and have been protesting to express their frustration. The community is exhausted and with the looming threat of war in their city, the psychological impact is taking its toll. Life attempts to go on as normal and then gunshots are heard and uncertainty rules the day. 

Currently, M23 has a stranglehold on the city and is getting worse. Many of the roads in and out of the city are held by the rebel group and vital resources are being blocked from getting in. “They may not take the city but they could starve us” - was stated in a recent news report. Goma is now a city under siege. 

Thousands upon thousands have fled as M23 has advanced. Many are worried that their communities will be plunged into the past where sexual assault, torture, and murder were regular occurrences. The situation is dire and the needs are great. 

This is not the news anyone wants to hear

We realize this can be discouraging. Often we don’t know how to help. Fight, flight, or freeze. We could flee from this and ignore the situation, we could sit back and just do nothing or we can fight and step into the void. The majority of main news sources are not reporting on any of this. So we share it here, we share it because we know you care and as a community, we don’t want to turn away from the atrocities that are occurring. We share because we want to hold the situation and people we care for in prayer and stand in solidarity with them, even though many of us cannot fathom what it is like to be there. The book of Lamentations is in the Bible for a reason. In part, it is so that we have an example of lament. That is to mourn but also to care.  

We are also striving to be an encouragement as the staff give of themselves. Though in the midst of impending war, those on the ground continue to serve, care, and sacrifice. They provide security and structure to the students and our beneficiaries and as such we also regularly look to improve upon and ensure their safety. 

Our response to the displaced evolves according to need and the direction of the organizations working directly with them. Whatever we can do, we bring to the table.

These include:

In the last weeks

There have been a large number of people entering the area where we had purchased land for a future high school campus. To help many escape the violence, we have opened our land to those in need. Currently, there are over 200 households camped on our property. We are doing what we can to support them. We were able to hold group counseling sessions for those who have experienced violence, anxiety, and trauma while fleeing, and we were able to provide meals and training.

Because we own the land we are able to use it to help so many, however, there are no water or sanitation facilities located on the property yet. As more people arrive, the risk of sickness grows. There are already cholera cases reported. We are looking into getting water to the campus and installing bathrooms to make them more comfortable and reduce any possible issues. This would also be the first step to developing the property for the future. 

As an organization, we want to ensure we aid in this humanitarian crisis as we continue to build a lasting impact while we develop the community and economy in the midst of the war. This is just one more way we can accomplish that. 

There are many needs we are working to address as an organization. Your help is paramount!

Image: Displaced at Mugunga (future site of the UJN high school)

Harmony Brown