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Capoeira brings leisure and peace-building for refugees in northern DR Congo
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UNHCR, 19/09/2014
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It's a hot, muggy Saturday afternoon in the Mole refugee camp, but while many people are taking a siesta, a hardy group of young men and women are indulging in their new obsession – capoeira. The Brazilian martial art includes elements of dance, acrobatics and music, and it is keeping people occupied and fit as well as helping ease tension between different groups of Central African Republic (CAR) refugees in this camp of more than 13,000 people in the far north of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. "Everyone can do it, women, elderly people, mothers and fathers. They can do it because it is a game. It can become an art to practise peace," says Maxime Obingui, a 37-year-old from Bangui. "Christians and Muslims are doing capoeira. We train together. We want to be together, like a family," he adds, alluding to the inter-communal conflict across the nearby Obangui River in his country.... |
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Cash grants transform life in Congo camp for CAR refugees
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UNHCR, 03/10/2014
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The market in Mole refugee camp was buzzing on a recent Saturday morning, with stalls selling everything from fish, goat meat, cassava and vegetables to clothes, cosmetics, household items and electronic equipment. Just two months earlier, the place had been half empty. That all changed when the World Food Programme (WFP) decided to end food distributions and introduced cash grants for the 13,000 refugees from Central African Republic, transforming life in Mole in northern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). "Food distribution was always chaotic; some food was missing. Now [with the grants], everyone receives their cash without any problem," noted Patrick N'Gocko, a 25-year-old refugee representative...... |
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Lessons on forgiveness by religious leaders helping Central African Republic refugees in Democratic Republic of Congo
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Al Jazeera, 16/10/2014
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During her 55 years in the DRC, Sister Maria Concetta has learned many lessons, but slowing down isn't one of them. An experienced midwife, the 80-year-old nun has assisted the births of more than 20,000 babies - eight of whom were the children of her good friend, Imam Moussa Bawa.
The imam, 72, doesn't move as much or as quickly as the sister, but his words posess a quiet gravity. "People come every day to my place to ask me for advice. I tell them that they have to forget the past. If someone harmed, you should not harm him, you should forgive."
For refugees who have fled the recent bloodshed in neighbouring Central African Republic, forgiveness can be hard to find. Much of the violence in CAR took place along religious lines, and atrocities were committed by both sides. "There will be a reconciliation with time, but not yet. We have to start step by step. This Friday again I will ta... |
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As one year ends, Central African refugees make a wish for 2015
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UNHCR, 08/01/2015
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As people around the world ushered in the New Year last week, refugees at a camp in northern Democratic Republic of the Congo joined in the celebrations, uncertain of what 2015 will bring them. And they put on a pretty good show with a Michael Jackson lookalike warming up the crowds of revellers at the Mole Refugee Camp's community centre, performing the late superstar's hits and moonwalk before other exuberant exiles from the Central African Republic displayed their skills in dance, music, song, drama and poetry...... |
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CAR refugees face uncertainty across the border: ‘Death was in front of us and we had to run away’
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The Guardian, 02/02/2015
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In a narrow canoe hollowed out from a tree trunk, a teenager, Valentine Pasi, her baby son and five young brothers-in-law ended their desperate race to safety across the Ubangi river. Behind them were the murders, rapes and desolation of home. Ahead of them, profound uncertainty. For many, this deceptively placid river has become the sole safe passage from the catastrophe engulfing the Central African Republic (CAR). A fresh surge of more than 30,000 refugees has poured across the unguarded border into the Democratic Republic of the Congo – itself hardly a model of peace and stability – in the past month, according to immigration officials. They come daily in fishermen’s canoes with what few possessions they can carry and tales of intensifying horrors in their homeland. Some bear the testimony in bullet wounds. An estimated 4,000 have settled in or near the riverside village of Gba... |
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Central African Republic: saving lives at the river's edge – a story told in pictures
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The Guardian , 28/01/2015
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Central African Republic: saving lives at the river's edge – a story told in pictures - Democratic Republic of the Congo... |
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Bijou’s Story, Democratic Republic of Congo
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UNHCR, 30/06/2014
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Bijou Ngunzoni Fatuma, 42, is a refugee from Central African Republic living in Boyabu camp in Equateur, province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Her torment began on the 6th May 2013 when her husband and his second wife were assassinated. “My neighbor came running to tell me that my husband and rival, the second wife of my husband, were killed when returning home from the market,” said Bijou. This double murder was the start of her ordeal. ”I decided to flee with all the children. I have five children of my own, my rival left three and my eldest daughter, Therese, has twins.” They had to go because the situation was deteriorating further. ‘‘We had to flee to avoid death,’‘ said Bijou desperately.
Bijou left everything in Lakuanga 1 where she lived in Bangui. She had her own business to help support her husband. ”I sold donuts, sugar, peanut and charcoal at the ... |
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