March 13, 2023
Throughout the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, fighting continues and thousands of people suffer from fear of war and lack of resources. The Salesians present in that region offer their help in the midst of the pressing needs that exist. Thanks also to worldwide Salesian solidarity, thousands of displaced people receive care in the Kanyaruchinya settlement and in front of the Salesian works in Goma and Shasha.
Los fighting and violence in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo not only continue, but they intensify as days go by. According to UNHCR, the conflict has left more than 5.8 million displaced in the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tanganyika.
In the field of Kanyaruchinyahe largest settlement of displaced inmates from the northern axis of Goma, where they live more than 60,000 peoplehundreds of families displaced by the war have received Assistance from the Salesian emergency coordination in collaboration with the NGO VIS. However, those living in the official camps for internally displaced persons have not received assistance for more than two months.
Now, 103 elderly people They have received soap and a serving of foods consisting of beans, vegetable oil and rice. The rice was sent by the New Rochelle Salesian Procurement, through its collaboration with a Christian NGO.
At the same time, the Salesians of Goma They continue to take care of the displaced people who have settled spontaneously on the grounds of the Don Bosco Ngangi center, more than 28,000 till the date. The Salesian missionaries contribute to peace and give them canvas, blankets, clothes, water, kitchen utensils, daily food rations for children and their caregivers, free medical assistance… In total, only with shipping rice and other foods have helped 1,440 families Until now.
Internally displaced persons occupy the camps of Don Bosco Ngangi and Don Bosco Shasha
In addition, since February 9, after several stops, almost 600 displaced from around 90 families They live installed on the lands of the Don Bosco Shasha Salesian Center. They come from the west of the Rutshuru territory and from the north of the Masisi territory. Also in this case, the Salesian missionaries have provided them with tarpaulinsclothes, kitchen utensils and food of emergency.
Salesian missionaries explain that “this zone of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is extremely fertile and most families work in the agricultural center. However, more than 90% of the farmers had already planted their seeds and were in a phase in which agricultural crops needed more maintenance to expect a good harvest. Unfortunately, war caught them off guard and they saw forced to leave their homes and take refuge in Ngangi”.
This aid comes in a very particular context of Hunger in the displacement camps for the war. The people who have received the rice rations have been extremely grateful for the donation, especially children who are looking forward to lunch.
The fighting continues and they intensify despite the ceasefire of a few months ago. For this reason, the Salesians and their collaborators continue to seek ways to help the displaced and continue to carry out the operation a gesture that saveswhat does a call unconditional to solidarity world under the motto: Help us help you better.
