Goma, November 19, 2008 6 a.m. , a convoy of humanitarian aid prepares to leave towards Rutshuru and Kiwanja, 75 km in the north of Goma. Hundred tons of food aid (cornstarch) will be transported towards this area by the inter logistic agency of the United Nations and escorted - by Monuc. An impressive convoy prepares with an euphoric emotion because it is the fifth and, for the moment, the last convoy for Rutshuru and Kiwanja. Everyone realizes the difficulties of the dangerous mission. At 06.30 a.m., we receive our white helmet and a bullet-proof waistcoat with the instruction to put it on at the least problem . An Indian general of the Monuc gives the instructions for the departure. The convoy is on its way. When leaving the city we phone the chairman of Memisa Belgium that we are leaving the city. At 17 km from the centre Goma, we pass the last military barrier of the FARDC. The soldiers at the edge of the road dawdle. They do not give a well-groomed impression . Several small groups of soldiers are in the valley and some military tents are at the side of the hill. They are strongly armed and hardly greet us. It is too early show alertness may be they had a difficult night We arrive in “No man’s-land” and silence settles in our vehicle.On my sms I receive an answer from our chairman who wishes me much courage by saying “May God protect you! ” Without saying a word , everyone knows that we are at the frontlines. From two hundred meters, we see the soldiers of CNDP. These soldiers are also heavily armed and in a terrifying state. In our vehicle everybody remains most silent. I try to break that silence by asking if these soldiers are “the others”? Our driver answers in a friendly way “Yes Sir” and everything is quiet again! What strikes me are the completely abandoned villages. There are only soldiers . Most of the windows of the wooden houses are broken. There are no women in the “No man's Land” even not trace of civilians. The villages are completely abandoned. At the edge of the road we see several empty “shells”. And at the side of the road the traces of tanks and the trucks are visible.
All the environment shows the violence of the combat which took place a few days with the folding screen. The fields give vegetables but the bad grasses push more and more. Some groups of civil, badly equipped are on the way! On their head or the back, they carry some “biloko” - goods. Where do these people move towards? They go with determination without looking at too much on the left nor on the right. Some children nicely greet us by shouting “Mouzoungou, Mzoungou”, which means “white”. Our road continues and gradually the conversation begins again between us. We see people more and more walking towards the direction of Gummed. Will they arrive one day? The convoy stops and we remain in the vehicle. Some telephones ring, which means that there is the telephone network. The news is not very good, people move in mass from Kiwanja towards Rutshuru. Why? The situation is not clear! We do not see yet too many of these movements but nevertheless more and more of the small families on the way. More and more, the worrying news comes to us while saying that the population of Kiwanja leaves to go towards Rutshuru. The convoy stops again and we can leave the vehicle to get information. Not more information but we see the empty and abandoned houses. People go but do not panic and that reassures us a little. Ten minutes later, the convoy is put again on the way and we approach Rutshuru. At the edge of the road, still some casings of the shells! Which combat took place here?? We see more and more people at the edge of the road often with a large basin on the head. These basins often filled with some kitchen utensils. The children follow their moms and they greet us cordially. There are even small markets where the women sell some articles disordered. But people are on the way. In my head, several questions cross my thought. Why? Where do these ammunition come from ? Who provides the weapons and the uniforms? The soldiers have a very closed and even satanic air! I have the impression that they look at us with a certain hatred. I often greet them and some react timidly. Most of the soldiers look with a fixed and limited glance. We cross the town of Rutshuru for Kiwanja, still six to seven kilometers to be made before arriving at destination. We see several small groups moving towards the south. What pushes these people to start from Kiwanja? We await several versions! There are threats heard, expressed towards the populations. Do May May want to make an attack? Is this the true reason? We are in the center of the stronghold of the Nkunda general. Fortunately we do not see it! More and more people on the way, without panic. We come closer to Kiwanja.
The center of the village is deserted, we do not see people in their house. The convoy moves towards the parish and the person in charge for WFP calls people of Caritas de Kiwanja. We (Jean-Benoit and me) of Memisa Belgium must meet the persons in charge of the centers of health. We do not have much time because to move away from the convoy is not advised. However I want to remain a small moment with them. The titular male nurse arrives very quickly. One never saw oneself but we greeted ourselves as one was already friends for a long time. A man smiling and apparently very glad to see us. He says it by thanking us for courage. He explains us the anguish and the atrocities which they lived. Fear of the blows of rifle, plunderers, rapists!!! He explains why he does not dare to sleep in their house because they fear the insurrectionists at every moment. He confirms the rumours that the soldiers CNDP or May May prepare a fastener on Kiwanja. Meanwhile people of inter agency of the United Nations speak with those about Caritas. I continue my conversation with the male nurse. It makes dramatic financial statement on the medical level. It even says to me that they did not still receive anything as medical aid except some kits that Memisa Belgium had sent the last month. They are in rupture of stock!!! I do not understand, out-of-stock condition? And there are so many organizations present over there. I learn that in fact only the structures of the Church did not still receive anything. We receive the order to regain our places at the edge of our vehicles. The male nurse came with his ambulance but I push him into our vehicle because I still want to speak with him. I ask the ambulance to follow us. In the vehicle, we learned that the situation is tended too much to make the distribution as planned. We must go towards Monuc. I am glad to have the male nurse in our vehicle and he obviously too. While arriving in front of the camp of Monuc, there is a large assembly in front of the door. We leave our vehicle and we try to pass through the crowd walking but the soldiers U.N. specialists do not let to us enter their camp. We see people in the camp, making their hut with sheets and papers. They seek any protection. They hope that Monuc can protect them but they express their disappointments. Meanwhile, we try to regain our vehicle and we will try to pass the assembly in front of the door of the camp. Considering the registration of our vehicle, we manage to reach the camp. People in front of the door have a glance in the vacuum. Very little joy! Rather the anguish is posted! They are obviously afraid! Inside the camp we continue our discussion with our male nurse. He is proud that he had once access to the camp. A few minutes of safety? I have clearly the impression! He speaks to me about the anguish and its fear. It lived, like thousands of people of the atrocious moments.
His wife is pregnant and he wonders how that will finish. When he speaks about his wife and his children, he is obviously moved, he doesn’t know what to do with them. He explains us what he had to do with the injured people and the other patients. Do people try to escape and are they on their way? I wonder towards where because some go towards the south and others towards north. They escape in all the directions because the threats come from everywhere. Curiously, there is no reaction of panic. They already lived the worst! According to instructions', our convoy of food aid must spend the night because the situation is too dubious to begin a distribution. Meanwhile, it is hardly midday and we have two more hours in front of us before turning over to Goma. I ask to visit a center of health and a nutritional center. We obtain the authorization and we left the camp in the direction of the health center which is situated a few kilometres away. A center of health and nutritional well held by Polish sisters. We see hundreds of badly nourished children! Some at a very bad stage with a glance in the “nowhere”. The images touch us a lot. Can we give them a little hope? We take our time with the children. The situation is serious! Doesn't this situation touch the belligerents? I am scandalized and I want to shout but nobody will listen to me! I get information compared to information that the male nurse gave me concerning the absence of the assistance for the medical centres of the church. This information is confirmed and I feel that I am irritated. I announce that to the WHO which also came for the first time in this area. I try to understand and I express my disagreement. I also understand that there is not enough assistance and that the other organizations must make compromises. Nearly justifiable and I say it to who I meet. We do not have too much time to fix on this subject and we decide to see how we can help these centers! Suddenly we receive the order to regain the camp of Monuc. The departure towards Goma is advanced with one hour! The male nurse who was with us returns and we return again to the camp. A small convoy is formed for the return towards Goma. Food that we brought remains with the camp for the distribution the following day. We must leave and we understand that the United Nations which do not want to run any risk for us. We understand them because we are not from there and do not know enough about the atmosphere in the area. And it is clear that we are an easy target in the event of the problems. And it is evident that it endangers even Congolese. I say goodbye to our male nurse with the promise to react very quickly for the centers of health. He is obviously very content with our visit and he says cordially goodbye to us.
The convoy moves towards Goma and we see the same scenarios! People move in all the directions with a fatalistic glance! A mom who sees us request “towards where… towards where we must go?” She puts her hands in the air and runs with the little remaining to her. I take a photograph, the only visible sign which I can lead to send in the whole world! I owe her that and I would do anything to help and denounce this war of atrocities! I do not see any reason which justifies the acts of the belligerents. I don’t know what to say and I wonder whether they have the choice. To escape towards where? “Escape from death or life?” One thought through my spirit: “My God, what did we do with our humanity? ” The convoy carries on its way but the rain threatens us. A few minutes later, a storm starts and a very strong rain floods the road, the fields and the houses. The convoy must stop because we do not see a meter in front of us. The flood for people on the road, completely soaked and wet… but they carry on their way. Some seek a small protection behind a tree! What a misery for these people? Which exit? What to shall they do? During this period of waiting because of the rain, I am asking questions to myself. Which misery for these people? Which exit? What to make? After half an hour of waiting, the convoy can recover on the way! But what a damage because of this rain! Flooded villages! The little of foods which the villagers had, is completely wet. The weather is cold and it is very wet! They will not eat something hot this evening, it is clear! Perhaps they won’t eat at all ! The soldiers are still there but they were withdrawn in the houses of others. What scandals! Who are the persons in charge and the guilty ones ? We speak about it in our vehicle and we are convinced that these people must be punished! This cannot continue like that! We approach again Gummed and we cross the last station of CNDP to arrive again in “No man `S Land”! These soldiers look resigned at the others of FARDC. We pass the first barrier at the entry of Gummed! A small relief invaded us! Mission accomplished for today! Did we arrive in the protected territory? Morally we think yes into ourselves but we know very well that it is not better on this side of the barrier! Shouldn't they be forgiven because they do not know what they do! But who is behind?
This rebellion is not innocent and there is a strategy behind! The direct and indirect authors are responsible and the real guilty people. Who wants to see, or listen to the touched people, victim of people thirsty for domination! It is cruel! There are war criminals against humanity! I really feel powerless and I do not want to close the eyes, nor the ears! I realize that my cries probably resound in a desert vacuum! So I finish with a proverb I do not know the author about but he says: “I sometimes talk to myself with the hope someone listens to me”.
Luc Vansina, ofm Cap in Goma, DRC
Ambassador for Peace, Pax Christi Flanders
National Coordinator of Memisa Belgium in DRC
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