November 29, 2022
The situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and in particular near the city of Goma, continues to be critical due to the conflict in the North Kivu region. Thousands of families continue to occupy all the play areas of the Don Bosco Ngangi Salesian centre. More than 40,000 displaced people have been counted and the Salesian missionaries are trying to identify and help all those who approach the Salesian work: “The Lord has placed us here today to bear witness to the Gospel of reconciliation, forgiveness and love for enemies” , says the superior of the Salesians of Central Africa, Father Guillermo Basañes.
The situation for the population of the Democratic Republic of the Congo it has gotten worse in the last few days. The fighting of the rebels approached the city of Goma. he already talks about it more than 40,000 located internally in the country.
in full rainy seasonSalesian missionaries are embroidered. “We have identified more than 26,000 individuals and 3,500 families, e 80% of those arriving are minors”, assures the Salesian missionary Domingo de la Hera. “He has been distributed material that we had stored, such as tents, tarps, mosquito nets and basic necessities… e we open a multipurpose room at night to host a group of elderly people and be able to offer them a hot dinner”.
We have Christine Matabishi 23 years old and three children. He fled his village Rushuru to save his life and that of his family. Today he is in Don Bosco Ngangi’s camp for displaced persons. “I only have a mosquito net and when it rains we cover ourselves with a tarp”Christina explains. “There are many cases like her in the field. We do everything possible for these people who have left everything to save their lives”, explain the Salesian missionaries in Goma.
The father Guillermo Basañes, Superior of the Salesians of Central Africa, visited the displaced and offered some indications to the Salesian missionaries in the country. “To be close mostly of the most vulnerable: children, infants, sick, elderly. That no hate speech come out of our mouth, not even by insinuation.”
Situation in Democratic Republic of Congo worsens as 40,000 internally displaced people arrive
The director of Don Bosco Center eraser, Father Jean-Pierre Muhima, describes the situation. “Several hundreds of families, estimated at various thousands of people north of the city of Goma, they filled on November 8th all courtyards recreational area of the Don Bosco Ngangi Youth Center”.
Spontaneously, a camp for large displaced persons in the sports areas of the center and in the neighboring municipalities. I’m men, women, children and young people visibly discouraged, tired, hambrientshaken and traumatized, fleeing combat zones in North Kivu province.
The situation has worsened in recent days, with 40,000 internally displaced persons. Salesian missionaries try take careespecially, of the smallest🇧🇷 ” We share balls and games so that they are entertained, and we try schools continue to function as normally as possible”, continues De la Hera.
Despite Put out the fire declared last Wednesday, and which was to come into force almost immediately, attitude worries both the authorities and by the rebel group M23shortening supply routes to force negotiations.
Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, sent to negotiate with warring parties, was clear after visiting a settlement for displaced people. “First we stop the war, then we start the dialogue. We cannot make children, mothers and the elderly live like animals. First we stop the war and then we say we have to talk.”
Father Basañes concludes: “Pray and have others pray for peace”. Meanwhile, from the various Salesian presences in the country and in the rest of the world, a call for solidarity. Without necessary and urgent intervention, these children, young people, women and all of this vulnerable people To follow exposed to all evils: epidemics, malnutrition and even death.
