situation and conflict increases - PLEASE PRAY!
From Dick, the week of September 2nd, 2007.
Monday:I have so much to do so haven't had much time to even pick up email.Yes, the situation here is really bad. Nkunda attacked DRC forces at Katale on Friday and since then the fighting has increased all over. Masisi, Sake, Kitchanga, Rutshuru..yesterday the Sake road was full of old mamas and papas and little children carrying everything they had moving toward Goma for security. So tragic.
Mugunga area has easily 10,000 tiny grass shelters and the rains are coming (have arrived)and everyone is soaked. 1500 fresh troops arrived from Kinshasa yesterday along with two helicopter gunships.
Goma is looking more like a garrison town. Buhimba road to GFH is full of new troops.
Pray for peace.
Word is the army is preparing for a major attack..17,000 mai mai are marching to Rutshuru to support the DRC army.
Yesterday I was in Ruwengeri (Rwanda). The one thing that really struck me was the lack of military..I realized that it has become "natural" here. Tensions are rising. I had to hitch a ride back on one of those to stop at every village til Gizenye buses..20 people in it, along with lots of produce. Then the last few miles took a moto to the frontier..a long wait there while the nite driver came.
Today I was at Buhimba along with all the mamas from Grounds For Hope (a sheltered community for survivors of violent rape that haven't healed). They were clearing the land, whooping and hollering..high motivation for us..
Tuesday:
The food situation here is becoming a crisis..tens of thousands displaced, no water, no sanitation, no food. UN seems paralyzed by it, too. I'm sure they are planning but I don't see any action. We sent out a team this afternoon to the Mugunga settlement to assess the situation. It far exceeds HEAL capacity, but I think we should be sounding the alarm.
Monday:I have so much to do so haven't had much time to even pick up email.Yes, the situation here is really bad. Nkunda attacked DRC forces at Katale on Friday and since then the fighting has increased all over. Masisi, Sake, Kitchanga, Rutshuru..yesterday the Sake road was full of old mamas and papas and little children carrying everything they had moving toward Goma for security. So tragic.
Mugunga area has easily 10,000 tiny grass shelters and the rains are coming (have arrived)and everyone is soaked. 1500 fresh troops arrived from Kinshasa yesterday along with two helicopter gunships.
Goma is looking more like a garrison town. Buhimba road to GFH is full of new troops.
Pray for peace.
Word is the army is preparing for a major attack..17,000 mai mai are marching to Rutshuru to support the DRC army.
Yesterday I was in Ruwengeri (Rwanda). The one thing that really struck me was the lack of military..I realized that it has become "natural" here. Tensions are rising. I had to hitch a ride back on one of those to stop at every village til Gizenye buses..20 people in it, along with lots of produce. Then the last few miles took a moto to the frontier..a long wait there while the nite driver came.
Today I was at Buhimba along with all the mamas from Grounds For Hope (a sheltered community for survivors of violent rape that haven't healed). They were clearing the land, whooping and hollering..high motivation for us..
Tuesday:
The food situation here is becoming a crisis..tens of thousands displaced, no water, no sanitation, no food. UN seems paralyzed by it, too. I'm sure they are planning but I don't see any action. We sent out a team this afternoon to the Mugunga settlement to assess the situation. It far exceeds HEAL capacity, but I think we should be sounding the alarm.
posted by The HEAL Africa Team @ 1:20 PM
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