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HEAL Africa provides holistic care for the people of Democratic Republic of Congo
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Received from a program leader June 26, 2010

“Good evening,

I would like to share this message with you about how painful it is to see how our children, the hope of tomorrow for Congo, are being violated by their own brothers and relatives.

There is a new movement “Mai Mai”, branch of PARECO, led by a Kirivata in the village of (omitted for safety concerns), territory of Lubero in the region along Lake Edward.  This militia is made of children (people) from the territory of Lubero and some FDLR soldiers.  These men, drunk on human blood and drugs, are sowing desolation by committing widespread rapes of young girls and forcibly recruiting young boys, looting the belongings of the population and sometimes assassinating peaceful citizens.  Many youth have fled their schoolrooms and others have run for their lives, leaving their daily work. 

widespread rapes of young girls and forcibly recruiting young boys, looting the belongings of the population and sometimes assassinating peaceful citizens.  Many youth have fled their schoolrooms and others have run for their lives, leaving their daily work. Since June 13, 2010 we have received Xenia (12 years old) and Yvonne (15 years old), from the village of (omitted for safety concerns).  These children were kidnapped and forced into sexual relations by many aggressors.  They live separated from their parents and cannot go back to their villages because they’re afraid of reprisals and stigmatization.

We write you this letter to plead that these young children, victims of sexual violence, receive protection and more specific responses to their needs. We would like to take the risk of taking a trip to that area to evaluate the situation there and advocate with the local authorities (military and perhaps raise awareness among the militias).”

Follow-up Note from the Editor:

This letter epitomizes the struggle that those working for the better future of Congo face daily. How to protect children, the future of the country, from those bent on havoc?   They continue to advocate for change at the risk of their own lives. These are the people that the population can count on. They don’t leave. They speak the same language. They are trusted. They can communicate with the larger world, hoping someone will listen. The young girls who were received will need treatment. They will need alternative living arrangements until they can go home. This costs money. This program lost its funding when UNICEF made cuts in their giving commitments to HEAL Africa earlier this year as a result of the global financial crises. HEAL Africa has taken these girls in. We need help to see them through the other end.

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