The humanitarian situation is worrying in the South Kivu Highlands between malnutrition and lack of medicine. Although the level of violence has fallen in recent weeks, supplies and travel are very difficult. Reportage.
With our special correspondent in Minembwe, Sonia Rolley
At the referral hospital in Minembwe, which is difficult for patients in the health zone to access. A woman lying down in her bed, she is the first patient from the Kihunga Health Center to reach Minembwe. The nurse, Etienne Ruganerwa, explains: “FARDC brought her here. She gave birth to a stillborn baby. She had a pregnancy but unfortunately she did not give birth, she came here late to the hospital, we were operated on and unfortunately the baby was already dead. “
But thanks to this mobilization, the mother survived. Her husband, mufulero like her, was not reassured by the idea of coming for treatment at the referral hospital in Minembwe, a locality that was mainly occupied by a competing community. “Of course I was afraid to come here. But when I arrived, I saw that it was fine, I was free. I was scared to death. In addition, people constantly call me from the village to ask me if I am well. “
However, the hospital staff assures that they have never stopped treating all the communities … Simply because bafulero and banyindu still live in the center or on the outskirts of Minembwe.
On the other hand, patients are short of funds and when they come, the hospital does not always have the necessary funds due to lack of medicine to take care of them.
FARDC called for rescue
Difficult movements also for the cattle. In the Minembwe market, everything has risen. Everything except the price of cows, skeleton and sold out for half price. One of the salesmen explains: “Before the cows grazed in Lulenge, this was where they grew up … Now we have to keep them in Minembwe, where they do not have enough grass.”
The lack of access to grass is dramatic for Banyamulenge, who say they have already lost a third of their cows in Mai-Mai attacks. The president of the Banyamulenge shepherds, Rubibi Mporana, says he raised the issue with the FARDC.
The leader of Kakenge 2, Lokokoma Sekaseso, a munyindu, is in Minembwe to also ask for help from the FARDC. The environments Banyamulenge, Twiganeho and Mai-Mai have collided with a section, and therefore all supply is blocked. What we are asking FARDC is to pave the way for people to get supplies from other markets. Even though there is war, people need access to food. ”
It is also seed season and many will not have access to their fields. This lean period is so much more difficult as the inhabitants of the highlands who have been able to stay at home often welcome displaced persons from their communities.
Azarias Ruberwa, minister of decentralization and figure of the Banyamulenge community, is called on Monday to explain himself to the assembly. He is accused, also by members of his coalition, of having influenced the installation of the rural municipality of Minembwe at the end of September 2020. This municipality was created with dozens of others by a decree from 2013, never used since.
For their competing community in South Kivu, Banyamulenge are attacking their territory and are even Rwandans. The latter, for their part, accuse the Mai-Mai groups in the Babembe, Bafulero and Banyindu communities of stealing tens of thousands of cows along with elements from the Congolese army that would represent millions of dollars.
► Also read: Minembwe case in DRC: Doctor Mukwege angry at politicians
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