Andrew Philip, Amnesty International researcher, blogging from the field.
Today we were at Ishasha, on the bridge over the river that divides the DRC and Uganda, and we saw hundreds of people crossing, probably over 5000. Today’s flux was unusual, according to an UNHCR official who told us they had never seen so many arrivals in one day since the end of October.
Fighting between the Mayi Mayi and the CNDP armed groups happened today in Nyamilima and Kinyandoni. People flee to get out of the DRC as soon as they can. Some are lucky and get accommodated in large tents, but today, thousands of people will sleep outside, many of them with no food and very little water remaining after the twenty kilometres they had to walk to make it to the border.
Continue reading ‘Today we were at Ishasha…’
Dani Valls, Amnesty International campaigner, blogging about international action on DRC
DRC demo in London ©Amnesty International
I came back from the demonstration in front of Mr. Brown’s office, at 10 Downing Street in London, in a good mood and with a utopian sense of hope.
There was a mix of powerful energy, clear demands, clocks, banners and a crowd of around 150 people backing up the demands that heads of the different organizations present and a Congolese youth activist made to the Prime Minister.
Continue reading ‘“Mr. Brown, act now!”’
Andrew Philip, Amnesty International researcher, blogging from the field.
We’re now in Mbarara, back from this morning’s visit to Nakivale refugee camp, in southwestern Uganda, 360km from the border with DRC. With over 35,000 people, it is one of the largest camps in the country.
Since the beginning of August, 13,000 refugees have arrived from the DRC - and 5,079 since the beginning of November only. More are coming every day. Yesterday there were 344 new arrivals, and when we were leaving the camp, we saw two more buses, loaded with people, coming in. Half of the refugees are children.
Continue reading ‘Democratic Republic of Congo - aid is still not adequate’
Dani Valls, Amnesty International campaigner, blogging about international action on DRC
I read that a journalist from UN-sponsored Radio Okapi was killed by unknown assailants in the Democratic Republic of Congo last Friday. He was my age, 34. He left a wife and three children.
And I hear the stories of children, forced to leave their homes to join some of the rebel armed groups, the silence from women and girls raped during the looting. More killings. Many which will never make it to the news.
I’m glad to see all the mobilizations happening in support of the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo in different cities of the world this week.
Continue reading ‘Acting to protect civilians in Democratic Republic of Congo’
