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Solidarity with those forced displaced by the armed conflict

Goma, known as "the most unfortunate city in the world", a border city between two neighboring nations, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, located in the North Kivu area, has become increasingly unstable since the 1990s to the present time. In recent months, fighting on the border between the Congolese Armed Forces and the rebels belonging to the M23 (March 23 Movement, founded in 2012), have taken control of several towns in the DRC, which is causing numerous forced displacements of innocent families. The humanitarian situation in the region is critical. More than 72,000 families have been forced displaced.

These people who are forcibly displaced, mostly children, women and the elderly, don’t know where to turn, and take refuge by the thousands in schools, churches or improvised refugee camps, without water, without food, and without access to basic shelter. Numerous families report cases of unaccompanied children, but also of fathers and mothers looking for their sons and daughters who, due to unexpected attacks, flee in terror.

In recent months, we have witnessed a new forced displacement of thousands of families, which has worsened in these past days. This is due to the increase in the incursions of the M-23 rebel group from Rwanda, which carries out indiscriminate attacks in North Kivu; a region rich in mineral resources of the highest value in the international market, and in dispute between different armed groups.

Since 1996 InteRed has been working together with our partner organizations in the DRC to defend the right to education and the rights of women and girls. We work hand in hand with the local ONGs, AGIR, VIS-RDC and SFVS in the conflict zone, to defend the rights of the women victims of the violence of the conflict and promoting youth participation in peacebuilding, 

We ask for your SOLIDARITY: 

Faced with this situation, we, InteRed, have decided to open an emergency account to receive funds, which will be channeled to AGIR* and VIS-RDC**, with whom we have been working for years, and which will cover, at least, access to food, hygiene kits, medicines and basic shelter.

Along with this, we maintain our firm commitment to continue fighting for the respect and full compliance with Human Rights, while responding to these very basic needs.

Pope Francis has denounced in his trip to DRC the "economic colonialism that enslaves" Africa and demanded that the international community "stop suffocating" the continent and commit to support "the peace processes that are underway" in the Central African country. "Take your hands off the Democratic Republic of Congo, don't touch Africa. Stop suffocating it, because Africa is not a mine to be exploited or a land to be plundered. Let Africa be the protagonist of its own destiny", stated in Kinshasa in front of 1 million people.

Your SOLIDARITY will help to:

• Provide food, especially for children with malnutrition.
• Distribute clothes.
• Deliver hygiene kits.
• Distribute tarpaulins and/or tents.
• Supply water and latrines.
• Medical care, especially for pregnant women, and psychological support.

Once again, we condemn the violence and its consequences inflicted on the most vulnerable population, especially women and girls, who pay the price of violence under constant human rights violations and abuses.

We thank you in advance if you can help us achieve these goals.

Join us in our efforts to help people displaced by the armed conflict. Contribute by donating through:

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You can also donate through this form with a credit card or with QR code: 

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Testimony of Mireille Ikuzwe, from our local organization in Goma, AGIR, from the Bulengo refugee camp, which more to 3,600 families displaced by the armed conflict:

Testimony of Sam Kiboko, from our local organization in Goma, VIS, from the Ngangi refugee camp, which  more to 4,200 families displaced by the armed conflict:

*AGIR is a Congolese NGO that fights for access to health for the people, especially the most vulnerable. Its priorities are to address maternal and child mortality.

*VIS–RDC Volontariato Internazionale per lo Svilupp, is an ONG promoted by the Salesian Works of San Juan Bosco, working on education, gender and human rights approach.

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