Thank you so so much for all your support, prayers and love for the Comfort Congo team and the situation in DRC. I have just returned from Goma (staying at the accommodation by the lake shown above) and can assure you of the gratitude and love of so many people there for all your love and support. Sometimes it feels for them that they are stranded on an island of chaos, violence and hunger and no-one can reach them, but then they receive the support and love from Comfort International givers and pray-ers and it restores their souls and strengthens their hearts to keep going.
It is such a hard time for the team and they are under immense stress. For example, Bedadi, the project manager, has 21 people in his small home at present because of the displacements and, of course, has somehow to feed them. Every night they are woken by the sound of guns as the area is insecure and bandits and defeated soldiers come out to steal and loot. On top of that is the constant stream of people looking for help.
However, the appeal has been met with amazing generosity and is a real lifeline to hundreds and hundreds of people. The major two outputs have been food for the hungry and equipment, mainly mattresses and medicines to get the hospital open again. (Some of the mattresses are being stored at the church to protect them from being stolen again from the hospital, as you can see from this photo of the church during the recent pastors’ training. )
The food situation is very serious. This came up constantly in conversation – it is a common occurrence to hear people speak of taking a cup of water with a small spoon of sugar as their food intake for the day. Others go days without food. The hunger is caused by the cutting off of government funding and salaries, the long term of closure of banks, the complete looting of the farmland of 9 hectares which was bought for displaced people, the restrictions in activities due to insecurity, the disbanding and destruction of the displacement camps by the M23 meaning the large relief organisations are not able to distribute food, and specifically for teachers, because so many people have no money parents cannot pay any fees and so schools and hence teachers have no income. The emergency funds have therefore been a true lifesaver. The need, of course, far outstrips the supply, but, when lives are in danger, what has been given and distributed is vital and hugely helpful.
Comfort Congo are working flat out but have far more need than they can meet and are having to make choices of who receives help. The 2000 children that were being fed by Comfort Congo in the camps have had their shelters destroyed as the camps were closed. 195 children are in the process of being moved back to Saké where Comfort Congo has an orphanage. The orphanage was also completely looted and will need reinstated. The rest of the children have mainly sought refuge in church and organisations’ compounds etc. It is very hard for them to find food. Comfort Congo consider that around 5 more orphanages would be needed to look after orphaned children in the various towns affected by the conflict.
The schools have reopened but have been told to close at 1pm for security reasons. Because many people cannot pay fees some schools have had to close. The situation is very fluid and complex and there are often decisions which have to be made which are an option between difficult and very difficult.
The hospital (CHR) has reopened. Some mattresses bought with the emergency funds are there but about half are being kept at the church in Goma at present to avoid the loss of too many in case there is more looting. Some medicines have been bought. The hospital is busy. Up until a few days ago it was only opening in the daytime as there was too much shooting of people in the area at night, but there are now three staff staying overnight. Pray for their safety.
The child soldiers have been dispersed as it is too dangerous for them to remain at Hope Village – if the M23 knew there is a place for ex-child soldiers they may forcibly recruit them into their army and the girls would be at risk of rape at night from many different groups of men. So they are staying with Comfort Congo staff and church members. The Street Kids Rescue and Comfort Babies Congo are also staying with host families.
There will be a blog issued regarding the CIMS teaching in Uganda and DRC, but suffice to mention how much of a joy it was to begin the CIMS programme in DRC. In the midst of so much darkness to meet with 108 church leaders and find strength and inspiration from God’s word together was hugely comforting and encouraging.
