Caritas Laments DR Congo’s “appalling human conditions

In an email message to ACI Africa on Monday, October 14, the Director of Communications of Caritas Butembo-Beni, Elie Mbulegheti, says that sections of the country continue to face the devastating effects of ongoing violent conflicts attributed to two rebel groups, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in Beni and the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels in Rutshuru and Lubero, and appeal for global partnerships to support the victims of the violence.

In the email message, Elie laments that the violent conflicts that the two rebel groups are involved in “have created appalling human conditions – widespread famine, malnutrition among children and pregnant women, and a crumbling healthcare system”. “Access to basic services like healthcare, education, shelter, and protection for vulnerable groups has become increasingly difficult,” he further laments.

According to the Caritas official in Butembo-Beni Diocese, “violent insurgencies have not only resulted in mass displacement but have also left thousands of orphans whose parents were brutally massacred by the rebels. Women and girls continue to be subjected to sexual violence and exploitation”. “The consequences of these conflicts are devastating, and the international community must pay closer attention to the suffering caused by these human atrocities,” the Congolese Caritas official says.

The attention of the international community to the “appalling human conditions” in the Central African nation, Elie explains, “can help shift global focus to one of the major issues the Holy Father has previously addressed – the lack of visibility of the conflicts in the DRC and their disastrous consequences.”

He goes on to recognize the efforts on the part of the Church, through various Caritas entities to reach out to the victims of the violent conflicts with provisions such as food, medical care, and shelter, including partnerships with Caritas Internationalis (CI), the global confederation of Catholic relief agencies, as well as the humanitarian arm of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Catholic Relief Services (CRS). 

“Despite the enormity of the crisis, we continue to alleviate the suffering of our people thanks to the solidarity of Caritas Internationalis, Caritas Norway, Caritas Belgium, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and other organizations,” the Caritas Butembo-Beni Director of Communications says. He adds referring to the various Caritas entities, “We are confident that increasing awareness of their work will help mobilize more resources to support those in desperate need.”

Amid the violence, Caritas has launched several initiatives towards long-term recovery, he says, and gives the example of the two vocational training centers that offer young people an alternative to formal school enrolments since many families, displaced from their farms and troubled livelihoods, can no longer afford to pay school fees for their children. 

“We have created these centers to give the youth a future offering them opportunities in trades, so they can build their lives despite the challenges their families face,” the Congolese Caritas official says in his October 14 email to ACI Africa.

In the email, Elie shares about the support Caritas Butembo-Beni has been extending to more than 2,500 rural households in agriculture and aquaculture, aimed at improving food security and nutrition. 

The support helps the members of the households “rebuild their livelihoods by providing basic farming tools, training in agricultural resilience, and support for adapting to climate change. This is part of our mission to give hope back to communities that have lost so much,” he says.

The Church has also invested in green energy projects to support rural development, Elie further says, and adds, “Eight micro-hydroelectric power stations were built over 20 years ago to provide energy to remote communities.”

The current limitation is that the machinery has become outdated and in need of upgrading “if we want to continue improving the quality of life for our people,” the Caritas official says.

He goes on to highlight the efforts of Butembo-Beni Diocese in healing and rebuilding lives. He says, “The presence of the Church remains a source of hope for Christians, in this context of war, to improve the quality of healthcare and sustainable development.”

It is in view of fostering this continued presence that the Local Ordinary of Butembo-Beni Diocese, Bishop Melchisedec Sikuli Paluku, emphasizes the need for the Church to be close to the people, he says.

“We must continue to stand with the people, providing health services, educational opportunities, and development initiatives. Our mission is to ensure that the Church's proximity to the people is both spiritual and practical,” Elie says referring to Bishop Paluku.

Jude Atemanke – ACI Africa