Muhunde: "We want the world to know what's happening here."

Trigger warning: This blog post contains descriptions of (sexual) violence.

“When the M23 arrived in Goma, they bombed houses and left everything in ruins,” Muhunde says. His grandson is sitting on his lap.

“We fled in a panic. We left our pigs, goats, and chickens behind.” On the way, two of his daughters, three younger brothers, and his parents were killed.

“I’ve seen it all.”

When another of Muhunde’s daughters arrived at the refugee camp, it turned out that she wasn’t safe there either: she was raped.

“I’m very sad,” he says. “I’ve lost everything.” He hopes his prayers will be answered.

“Be our voice. This isn’t just my situation. Everyone here is in the same situation.”

Together with our partner organization ZOA, we have been supporting those most severely affected in the Goma region since the outbreak of the conflict by providing funds for urgently needed supplies, clean water, and sanitation facilities.

The humanitarian situation remains challenging. In Goma, the situation has improved slightly, but many families continue to live in uncertainty. In the small town of Sake, about 20 kilometers west of Goma, where many displaced people have also sought refuge, the situation is slowly improving. Work has begun on rehabilitating the water distribution system—yet clean drinking water is still lacking in many places.

All camps in the region have now been closed. Many people have returned to their hometowns—but not always to safety: some homes were destroyed by storms, while others were looted or damaged by the violence.

With your help, we can alleviate immediate hardship and give people new hope. Thank you so much for standing by those in need. Help us now!