Update from DR Congo

Last December in Marungu a remote and impoverished region in east Congo, government forces moved to crack down on the Interhamwe rebels.  With an influx of refugees and fleeing Interhamwe fighters the region was thrown into turmoil.

As NGO’s are still not allowed in the region, Emmando, a Congolese Engineer who works for African Revival Ministries (ARM) has sent us the following reports updating us of the situation:

‘The situation is still precarious but there are now government soldiers protecting the roads.’

‘At present there are 124 families living in bad conditions around Marungu village.  Thanks to the generous donations that we received, we were able to buy blankets for all 124 families in the area.’

‘We are grateful for everything we have received but we still need more clothes and food.’

DR Congo has a long history of violence with an estimated 3 million lives lost in the last decade due to conflict.  This has devastated the social and development structure of the country leaving schools, hospitals and homes destroyed and leaving many people without shelter and short of food and water.

Despite a peace deal being brokered in 2003 the threat of civil war is still a possibility and the country is still in a grip of a humanitarian crisis.

Reports from last December told us of rebels and government soldier’s alike taking cows, goats and the like from civilians.   This has affected the families in the region who are still desperate for food and clothes. 

 With your continuing support we hope to help provide further aid to the people of Marungu.  Thank you to all who donated in response to the Marungu campaign.
 

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