Life in a state of emergency / Part 1 

In a refugee camp near Nyunzu in the east of
the DR Congo (2005) - Photo: Benno Neeleman

The resulting number of victims adds a historic dimension to this human tragedy; no armed conflict since World War II has taken such a heavy toll on human lives. An estimated 3.8 million people have died as a result of violent conflict since 1998; they were either killed in warfare or died of hunger and diseases given the total breakdown of supplies and services. Although a peace agreement was struck in 2002, the process of pacifying the area of the Great Lakes has not been completed up to this day.

The SOS Children's Villages in Bukavu and Uvira became repeatedly caught in the whirl of political events, evacuation plans had to be prepared, the facilities were looted, militias and soldiers used the SOS premises as temporary warehouses. What is the situation like today, what are the population's prospects in the region of South-Kivu, what are the living conditions for children like, how do co-workers, SOS mothers and children cope with day-to-day difficulties? Marthe Kagane, director of SOS Children's Villages in the country, the head office of which is located in Bukavu, answers these and other questions.


Children from the SOS Children's Village in Bukavu: What does the
future hold for them? - Photo: Solveig Vinamont 

What is the overall situation like in eastern Congo?
There is a feeling of uncertainty of not knowing what the next day may bring. It's neither war, nor peace. Anything can happen anytime. Due to this climate of instability and massive refugee movements, there is also a steady increase in the cost of living. Compared to Uvira, the situation in Bukavu is extremely critical and dangerous; there is a lot of crime, frequent looting, rape and murder.


Thousands of children in the DR Congo have fallen and will fall victim
to the war; many are also abused as child soldiers - Photo: Solveig Vinamont

Is there any kind of social, economic and political infrastructure in place people can rely on?
There is only a fragile social infrastructure in place. This actually only consists of a group of volunteers from South-Kivu who have joined to help people in need. These volunteers try to prepare lists of war victims in order to have them officially registered. They organise relief and support for people through donors both within and outside the region and/or Congo.

Are there many refugees in South-Kivu?
Yes, too many. Most are women, children or older people. Besides many people fleeing ethnic conflict within Congo, there also many refugees from Rwanda and Burundi.


SOS Children's Villages is trying to enable as many children as possible
to form a good basis for the future through education (SOS School in Bukavu) 
Photo: Solveig Vinamont

What does the general situation of children living in Congo look like?
The situation of children in the Democratic Republic of Congo is extraordinary difficult. Their lives are dominated by poverty, insecurity, and hopelessness. The children neither have a future nor prospects. The majority does not attend school. However, even those attending school are being told by grown-ups that it does not pay off, as many who have completed school are unemployed and look for jobs. This is all contributes to increasing the number of street kids throughout the country, especially in the eastern regions. The streets kids, called Maibobo, live in constant fear of violence or even murder. They are especially exposed and vulnerable to diseases. Due to steady deterioration of the situation, parents are giving up on their responsibility. One of the results is increasing prostitution among under-aged girls who try to make a living for themselves or their entire family.


Far too many children in the DR of Congo go hungry, die of diseases
that can be easily avoided, have neither home nor access to schools.
(giving out basic foods in Kongolo, 2007) - Photo: Benno Neeleman

How many children in the eastern provinces and the entire country are in need of long-term care?
I don't have the exact statistics to hand, but I'm sure there are thousands, thousands of children who are in desperate need of out-of-home care and a new home as they were uprooted, orphaned and abandoned.

How many children are currently being cared for in Uvira and Bukavu?
About 300 children and youths live in Bukavu, more than 230 live in Uvira.

Life in a state of emergency / Part 2