In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, at least three thousand displaced children, who have fled fighting between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and M23 rebels for over three years, celebrated Christmas this Wednesday in the Kanyaruchinya camp, north of Goma.
2 mins
With our correspondent in Goma, Heir Baraka
In the middle of a sandy field, under the pouring rain, hundreds of children queue in the hope of receiving food.
Japheth and Sun’s faces light up when they receive food. Aged 7 and 10, they are delighted to be able to celebrate Christmas like other children. “ We received rice, meat, potatoes, juice, beans. I feel good, because at home we weren’t supposed to celebrate Christmas » explains Japhet. Soleil adds: “ I got the food. As I am displaced, normally I couldn’t have one. »
Tokens for food
In this camp for displaced people, you need tokens to receive food. This Christmas distribution for children is exceptional. Ange Jibu came to get food for her three children: “ My children would have had to go a day without eating. This help comforts us, before when we still lived at home, we could celebrate Christmas, but not anymore. »
Depaul Bakulu is a member of the Goma Actif organization, which initiated this distribution. He pleads for an end to the war in eastern Congo: “ It is a call to all belligerents to cease fire, to stop the war. We appeal to Humanity for these children to return home, and we ask the community to step up and do everything possible so that there is a peace agreement between all the belligerents. »
A few dozen kilometers from the camp, fighting continued this Wednesday between the FARDC and the M23 in several localities in North Kivu.
Also readEastern DRC: clashes between the army and Wazalendo militias leave around ten dead