ANGLICAN Primates are calling for the immediate cessation of hostilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), describing the crisis as “a profound humanitarian tragedy, marked by violence, displacement and suffering that affects millions of innocent lives”.
The path to peace requires “a commitment to listening, understanding, and resolving grievances through non-violent means”, they say in a statement issue last week by the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa. They declared their support for regional initiatives by “well-meaning bodies”, including the UN.
Tearfund, a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), has launched an appeal for water, hygiene kits, and cash for other basic necessities. More than 20 million people have required humanitarian assistance since the conflict began, and it warns: “Without water, more people will perish, not only from thirst but also from preventable diseases spread through poor hygiene.”
Tearfund’s country director for DRC, Poppy Anguandia, described the needs of partners and staff as unprecedented. “For those who have fled conflict and are now sheltering in schools and churches, access to life-giving water is allowing people some basic dignity and hope amidst the heartbreaking humanitarian catastrophe in eastern DRC,” she said.
An estimated 3000 people have been killed and 2800 injured in the sharp increase in violence in Goma and its surrounding areas since January. Reports have come from UNICEF and others of the rape and recruitment of children, as the M23 fighters who took Goma continue their progression south.
The agency’s executive director, Catherine Russell, said in a statement last week: “In North and South Kivu provinces, we are receiving horrific reports of grave violations against children by parties to the conflict, including rape and other forms of sexual violence at levels surpassing anything we have seen in recent years.”
She made reference to a single week at the end of January, during which the number of rape cases treated at 42 UNICEF-supported health centres surged five-fold in just one week. Children accounted for 30 per cent of those receiving treatment
“The true figures are likely much higher because so many survivors are reluctant to come forward. Our partners are running out of the drugs used to reduce the risk of HIV infection after a sexual assault,” she said. Children were increasingly being separated from their families, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation.
The violence was also exacting a toll on pregnant women, she said. Some were going into labour while fleeing bombardments, while thousands of others were “bracing for childbirth in tents, under bombardment, unsure if they or their babies will survive the night”.
The Primates’ statement urges support for humanitarian aid and respect for human rights: “Our commitment to Christ’s teaching compels us to stand against corruption, oppression, and any actions that violate the inherent dignity of every human being,” it says.
The statement also acknowledges that long-term peace in the DRC requires addressing the root causes of conflict, including poverty, inequality, and lack of access to resources. The Primates “implore national and international leaders to work collaboratively towards sustainable development in the region, ensuring that the wealth of the DRC benefits all its citizens”.
Roman Catholic bishops in Africa have asked the community to unite in prayer and fasting for three days on 3-5 March, for “God’s intervention to end the ongoing conflicts in parts of Africa and for comfort to the afflicted”.
A statement issued by the standing committee of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar condemned the ongoing bloodshed and emphasise the power of faith and solidarity in bringing hope to those affected by the conflict.
“We acknowledge the immense suffering that many of our brothers and sisters are enduring. . . To all who are bereaved and suffering, we say ‘You are not forgotten. The Church has not abandoned you.’ We stand with you, pray for you, and continue to call for justice, peace and reconciliation.”
