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Solidarity amidst extreme hardship – DRC

Imagine being forced to flee the place that you’ve always called home, leaving everything behind.

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Democratic Republic of the Congo

In the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), many communities have not known peace for more than two decades. Armed groups are causing massive forced displacements and acute humanitarian needs.

There are 3.5 million internally displaced people (IDPs) in North Kivu and Ituri Provinces alone. These people were forced to flee their homes.

Most IDPs are finding refuge with host families. Facing a deteriorating situation and long-standing funding gaps, aid organizations are doing their utmost to mobilize sufficient resources and bring operations to scale.

The survival of many affected families depends on the solidarity of their host families and communities. They share limited resources, scarce food and cramped houses. Facing this extreme adversity together, communities show incredible dignity and humanity.

The following stories and images provide a glimpse of how families in North Kivu and Ituri are supporting each other and showing solidarity in the most challenging circumstances.Kotoni, Ituri Province. A displaced family gather at their makeshift hut.

Kotoni, Ituri Province. A displaced family gather at their makeshift hut.

Manro, Esperance, Signagora

Manro (65), Esperance (62), Signagora (58) and Generosa (60) share a small hut every night. They fled violent clashes in their village and its surrounding hills and then walked for several days until they reached Kotoni village, in Ituri Province.

Kotoni has received more than 12,500 IDPs , almost doubling its population. Around half of the displaced families built makeshift shelters or sleep in the local primary school’s classrooms. Others found refuge with host families.From left to right: Manro, Esperance, Signagora and Generosa in front of the hut offered to them by their host family. The friends share the small space each night.

From left to right: Manro, Esperance, Signagora and Generosa in front of the hut offered to them by their host family. The friends share the small space each night.

Esperance explains: “The mother of our host family works as a cleaner in the health centre. She struggles to have enough for her own family, so most of the days we do not have enough to eat.”

The friends work together weaving mats. It takes about a week to prepare one mat, which they can sell for US$2.50 to buy food and medicine.Displaced women at an improvised market in front of the primary school in Kotoni, Ituri Province. Many displaced families sleep in the school's classrooms.

Displaced women at an improvised market in front of the primary school in Kotoni, Ituri Province. Many displaced families sleep in the school’s classrooms.

Signagora smiles at the camera.

Signagora smiles at the camera.

Marie

Marie (right) and Bakai (left), both displaced, rest in their beds in Kotoni’s health centre. The health situation of many IDPs is critical. As there is not enough clean water, they take water from unsafe sources. Many IDPs don’t seek medical help when they fall sick, as they do not receive free treatment at the health centre . Since their arrival in November 2020, the number of community deaths has increased.

Marie explains that six weeks earlier, she had to run for her life and that of her unborn daughter.The hand of a newborn baby who is sleeping on the floor next to her mother at the Kotoni health centre.

The hand of a newborn baby who is sleeping on the floor next to her mother at the Kotoni health centre.

“The war came to my village. It was in the early morning. It was horrible, I have no words. I had to flee all alone, I walked for a full day. My husband ran in another direction. I have not heard from him since. I am now staying with a host family.”

Only two days before this picture was taken, Marie gave birth to her first child – a healthy girl. “One day she will be a nurse,” Marie says.Marie (right) and Bakai, both displaced, rest in their beds at the Kotoni health centre. Marie gave birth to her first child only two days before this picture was taken.

Marie (right) and Bakai, both displaced, rest in their beds at the Kotoni health centre. Marie gave birth to her first child only two days before this picture was taken.

The delivery room in the Kotoni health centre.

The delivery room in the Kotoni health centre.

Marie’s newborn daughter at the Kotoni health centre.

Marie’s newborn daughter at the Kotoni health centre.

Floribert and Denise

Floribert and his family found refuge at Denise’s house in the small town of Kalunguta, 25 km south of Beni, in North Kivu. They fled after their village, Lisasa, was violently attacked in October 2020. More than 20 people were killed. Armed groups frequently attack the densely forested hills surrounding Kalunguta. Floribert and his family found refuge at Denise’s house, in Kalunguta, North Kivu Province.

Floribert and his family found refuge at Denise’s house, in Kalunguta, North Kivu Province.

“In the middle of the night we heard shots and detonations. When the sun came up, many had already been killed. We took our five children and ran,” explains Floribert.

“We work as labourers in the fields. But we do not even earn enough to get some basic clothes. We still wear what we had on us when we fled. If I find work here, I can stay a bit.”

Denise, their host, explains: “I am a returnee myself. In 2017, I had to flee to Butembo and then another village. But the war came there, so I went back to my house in Kalunguta. They had broken the door; everything had been stolen. Here, they (Floribert and his family) are safe. They can stay if they have to. Where should they go? We will somehow manage to get through this together.”Young Aristote (left) and his family left their village because of insecurity. They are staying with a host family, and Aristote can attend classes in a primary school in Kalunguta.

Young Aristote (left) and his family left their village because of insecurity. They are staying with a host family, and Aristote can attend classes in a primary school in Kalunguta.

A photo in this story
A photo in this story

Displaced boys playing in Iga Barriere, Ituri.

Katembo

Katembo is building a house for his family together with nine other displaced men in Kalunguta. In turn, he will help them to construct their homes.Katembo is building a house for his family together with nine other displaced men.

Katembo is building a house for his family together with nine other displaced men.

“There was intense fighting where we lived. People were killed. A lot of them. That’s how we fled here.

“I’ve spent one year here now. We suffer. It is difficult to find a place to sleep and enough food. We help people in the fields in exchange for a little flour and oil. They gave us some cooking utensils because we had to leave everything behind. We are thankful for their help. Now they even gave us these plots. We feel at peace here.

“Today we are building this house for my family. We work together, 10 people from the neighbourhood, all the way to the top. When we finish one house, we start building the next, and so on. We also work with the local people, youths and women we met here. They show solidarity with us who are displaced.”Katembo and his friends building his house. In turn, he will help them construct their homes.

Katembo and his friends building his house. In turn, he will help them construct their homes.

A photo in this story

Jean and Esther

Jean and Esther also fled the recent attack on their village, Lisasa.Jean and Esther in front of their temporary house.

Jean and Esther in front of their temporary house.

They explain: “We haven’t been able to go back to our fields to get food. The houses are all destroyed. They took all the small animals, chickens and goats. It’s very difficult to find enough to eat each day. Often, we do not have anything.

“When we arrived here, we asked around where we could rest and sleep. A family with a big heart opened this house for us, they were compassionate with our desperate situation.

“We are now staying in their house, paying $5 rent every month. But it’s almost destroyed because of the rain and wind. We help out in the fields to earn a bit. We try to save bits here and there so that we can afford the rent.

“Our eldest son died when we fled the previous clashes some years ago. He fell ill but we were hiding in the bush. He received no treatment and died. My mother-in-law was killed too. She simply took the wrong road thinking it was safe. Then the bandits killed her.”

A photo in this story

The hills surrounding Kalunguta, North Kivu Province.

The hills surrounding Kalunguta, North Kivu Province.

Tumahini

Tumahini, 24, is the president of the protection committee at the Linji displacement site in Iga Barriere, Ituri Province. When her village was attacked, she followed the village chief and walked for days to find refuge at the site.

A mother of four and struggling to make ends meet, Tumahini puts all her energy into supporting and counselling other displaced women.Tumahini Mave, 24, is president of the protection committee at the Linji displacement site near Iga Barriere, in Ituri Province.

Tumahini Mave, 24, is president of the protection committee at the Linji displacement site near Iga Barriere, in Ituri Province.

She explains: “I fled the fighting in my village. I heard the shots, people were hit. They burnt down the village. I took my children and ran.”

Linji hosts several thousand displaced people. As the site is located near small gold mines, many displaced people go there, digging for a lucky find. But they are exposed to great risks, as the fields and paths around the site are exposed. Women and girls in particular are at risk. Protection-related incidents often go unreported.

Tumahini adds: “Here it is dangerous. I am counselling women whatever happens to them. When they leave the site to look for wood or food, they are being harassed and forced to have sex for food. When women are raped, they prefer to keep silent. They risk being discriminated and rejected by their husbands.

“I am surviving with little activities, helping out in the fields of our hosts, carrying building materials or in the gold mine. Because of the risks, I try to leave the site as little as possible.”A group of displaced women in their shared field near Bunia. They are cultivating the field to prepare the first harvest.

A group of displaced women in their shared field near Bunia. They are cultivating the field to prepare the first harvest.

Tumahini.

Tumahini.

Kavuo and Jeanne

When terrible violence broke out in their village, Kavuo and her family fled to Mangina, a small town on the border between Ituri and North Kivu Provinces. They found refuge at Jeanne’s house. The space is cramped and food is scarce, but the two families now share everything. Kavuo and Jeanne did not know each other before, but they’ve become great friends.

Kavuo saved two small children she found traumatized and abandoned when fleeing her village. She continues to take care of them, as their parents have not been found.

With support from the local NGO AIDES, Kavuo has started constructing a small house. If she’s able to return to her home village, the new house will pass to Jeanne and the host family. Kavuo and her host, Jeanne. They’ve become great friends.

Kavuo and her host, Jeanne. They’ve become great friends.

“They attacked our village, killed our neighbours, burnt down the hospital, killed children. We were lucky to find a way to escape,” explains Kavuo.

“We lack clothes, we don’t have any household items, we don’t have mattresses. We are just as you see us. But we live in peace with the people here. They welcomed us since we arrived. We cram ourselves together to sleep. Our host family shares their food so that at least the children can eat. In the morning we prepare food for them. We adults don’t eat. We wait until the evening. If we eat twice a day, there will not be enough food.

“The mother who welcomed us here lives from field work. We do everything together; she is a good woman. She takes us as her own family. She wants us to be well. That’s why she gave us a place to build a house where I can live with the children. I will sleep in a good place when I move here.”Kavuo and her family share a meal with Jeanne and her family. “They have welcomed us since we arrived,” says Kavuo.

Kavuo and her family share a meal with Jeanne and her family. “They have welcomed us since we arrived,” says Kavuo.

Kavuo, Jeanne and some friends work on building the house that will host Kavuo and her family.

Kavuo, Jeanne and some friends work on building the house that will host Kavuo and her family.

Angele and Dieudonné

Angele (28) and her nephew Dieudonné (18) arrived at the Linji IDP site one year ago. Angele is physically challenged; her legs have been paralysed since childhood. When she and Dieudonné fled violence, he carried her for several days through the bush.Angele watches her nephew, Dieudonné, smash stones to find bits of gold.

Angele watches her nephew, Dieudonné, smash stones to find bits of gold.

“They attacked our village, burned down the houses. We had to leave. We came with nothing, only the clothes we were wearing,” says Angele.

“I suffer from pain in the hips and the back, but I cannot afford medication or painkillers. I hardly ever move out of the tent. If I must go somewhere, Dieudonné will carry me.

“He helps me with everything. I try to contribute a little bit, prepare some food. But I don’t have much strength.”

To make a little money, Dieudonné works at the nearby abandoned goldmine.

He explains: “I dig out stones that I bring back to the site. I smash them to find small spots of gold. If I find anything, I go to Iga Barriere to sell it.

“I would like to go back to school. I had to stop after the sixth year. But if I go to school here, who will help my aunt?”Angele’s legs have been paralysed since her childhood. When she and Dieudonné fled violence, he carried her through the bush for several days.

Angele’s legs have been paralysed since her childhood. When she and Dieudonné fled violence, he carried her through the bush for several days.

Dieudonné smashes stones to find bits of gold. If he finds any, he will go to Iga Barriere to sell it.

Dieudonné smashes stones to find bits of gold. If he finds any, he will go to Iga Barriere to sell it.

How you can help

Violent conflict, epidemics and natural disasters continue to compound and exacerbate existing vulnerabilities in DRC. Disputes over land and mineral resources continue to drive conflict dynamics and displacement. As a result, 5.2 million people are now internally displaced.

Crisis-affected families and their host communities are showing extraordinary resilience and solidarity. But they desperately need humanitarian aid to help them address the most urgent needs and rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

The 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan for DRC requires $1.98 billion to assist 9.6 million people.

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