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Chaos in Goma

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Displaced camp in Goma

It has been very distressing following the news from Goma as it was attacked by M23 rebels and effectively annexed by neighbour Rwanda. Many hundreds of people have been killed and wounded. Rebels have been destabilising the whole eastern part of North Kivu province for the past 28 years, and conflict minerals have been exported out of the area to neighbouring countries, helping drive the conflict. Previously the volcano Mount Nyiragongo erupted in 2000 and in 2022 destroying large parts of this city of a million people including hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people.

Mount Nyiragongo seen from Goma

Semiliki trustee Sam Pearson and health adviser Nigel Pearson visited our partners in Goma in November 2024. They visited the school for orphans which also feeds a hundred and fifty vulnerable children twice a week, supported by Semiliki.

Primary and pre-school children enrolled in the nutrition programme at Tumaini (Hope) School.

The project is run by our partner Claudaline, and a team that includes administrator Janvier, and Claudaline’s daughter Sarah.

Project administrator Janvier, and Sarah (with her own daughter) with children in the nutrition programme

Our friends and all these children and their families lived through two terrifying weeks as rebels advance on and took the town. They heard repeated shelling and gun fire.

Many hundreds of thousands of people have fled Goma, across Lake Kivu to Idjwi Island and Bukavu. Residents are scared that the violence will spread to Bukavu, a city of as many as two million people. Amongst the displaced are those who were already displaced in camps around Goma.

Aerial view of the large dsiplaced camps to the west of Goma

Health coordinator Bahati in Bukavu had to ask special permission to attend his niece’s funeral on Idjwi Island as all transport across the lake had been banned. He recounts how 25,629 displaced have been registered in Idjwi, some living in the open, others taken in by family and friends. Most lack plastic sheeting for shelter, kitchen utensils, food and change of clothes. The team from Bushusha health centre have helped them dig holes for pit latrines and the recently protected springs are providing clean water, but much more is needed and there are few international agencies able to respond at this site.

Health coordinator Bahati with nurse in charge, Didier, of Bushusha health centre (with new construction behind).

What can Semiliki supporters do? To be more informed of the situation see this Call for Peace issued by Bishop Martin, leader of the Anglican Church in Goma, supported by Bishop Bahati of the Anglican church in Bukavu.

Join us to pray for peace this Thursday 6th February at 12pm UK time. Register for the zoom event kindly organised by Linda and our friends at CMS Ireland.

We also hope to send money for the displaced on Idjwi and in Bukavu for critical needs. Donate to Semiliki to help the displaced, support our regular projects and/or building appeal.

Visiting displaced in Goma before the recent attack. Nigel with (to his left) Goma team of Rev Innocent, Rev Sadiki, Bp Gordon, a teacher, and health coordinator Baraka