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We shall remain at Mongoumba and will not run away from the war
Rome, Saturday, August 3, 2013
Élia Gomes is a Lay Comboni Missionary who has been working for three years in Mongoumba, Central African Republic (CAR). Today, the missionary tells us how the lack of security and fear are widespread all over the country. “There are many weapons around. It is rare to spend a day without hearing any shooting – writes Élia – especially in the capital, despite the presence of the Multinational Army of Central Africa (FOMAC), which is helped by the French in patrolling the city.” To be in solidarity with the people of the CAR, Élia is thinking of staying in the country.
Four months after the coup in the CAR, the number of Seleka members has increased from six thousand to twenty five thousands. Many services do not work, the banks have no money, the employees are not paid.
Looting continues throughout the country. Despite the effort of some NGOs who, running the risk of losing their vehicles, try to go and help the places that have been hit the hardest, there are still many health centers without medicines and many people do not have access to basic commodities. For this reason, the level of poverty among the people is increasing and the degree of malnutrition is increasing, especially among the children.
The province where I live, Lobaye, is among those that have suffered less during these events. And our locality, Mongoumba, even less, thanks to the geographic situation which isolates us from the rest of the country. But, even though we have not been directly affected, we continue to live in the uncertainty for the future.
Panic and fear cause irrational behavior. Many families of Mongoumba seek refuge in the forest and drag there all that they have, including pigs and chickens. We too, at the mission, are afraid, but do not run, we stick together, supporting one another and praying. We are completely isolated, without any possibility of entering or leaving the place and without telephone.
The first visit of the Seleka rebels was announced: since they arrived at night, they had to wait for dawn before crossing the river.
They stayed in Mongoumba one whole day, then they took off with the service vehicles of the military. They emptied the fuel storage of the customs station and took along the entire security contingent of Mongoumba. We were left without protection.
At present Mongoumba can rely on a small military detachment, but people try to avoid it. A few days ago, someone was saying – and I agree –“God is protecting Mongoumba.”
Travel to the capital is not easy, but by God’s grace we were able to get there without problems. We do not know whether it was due to the fact that we are White people or because we are missionaries. In any case, to go through road blocks, we would show up with a smile and say: “We are the fathers and the sisters of Mongoumba,” and it worked.
Élia Gomes