Water in buhene, a gesture that brings relief

Since May 23, the population around KIBUMBA have fled from their villages following clashes that have become recurrent between the M23 and the FARDC in North Kivu province.

An estimated movement of 70,000 people, many  stopped at the EP KANYARUCINYA , some to the EP KAYEMBE in MUNIGI and others shelter within the CEBCE and CEBCA churches in BUHENE. Humanitarian aid in terms of food came late, concentrated in KANYARUCINYA totally ignoring the displaced from other sites (KAYEMBE and BUHENE).

Seeing the flow of displaced people in KAYEMBE, the Red Cross provided water there,  but BUHENE has always been forgotten. 35 families settled in the church CEBCE BUHENE and were without food or water:  children, pregnant and lactating women and elderly. Rainfed water tanks were used for drinking, laundry and cooking. When the rain disappeared, finding water became a headache for the displaced.

"When we arrived here we found the rainwater in the church tank and it served us for 3 days then the water was finished and as there was no more rain, we had to get by. We would go to houses here next to the church to ask for some water. In the first days we were given some but then we started to be told to go buy at the tap like everyone else since they could not bear us anymore. It became difficult because we do not have the money; it is the members  of the church who give us the food we eat.

At the worship service we asked for a little money to be able to find money to buy water. Here a (gerrycan 5 gal) can costs 100fc and sometimes 200fc so if by grace someone gave you 500fc you had to guard it  jealously for the whole week yet the need for water is really great. You have to wash the children and wash their clothes, prepare food if there is any, and drink, for a can it was not enough, " said Marceline NDIKUBWIMANA.

The rainwater in the tanks lasted for three days.  It helped some women shower. It helped prevent infections and waterborne diseases for children.  Laundry was done in very small amounts of dirty water and showering was very rare because the priority was for drinking and cooking.  Again it was not enough.

Alerted by this situation, AGIR-RDC intervened on behalf of these forgotten displaced people in BUHENE by bringing two water tankers from REGIDESO to the CBCE and CBCA BUHENE church. To manage the water, a monitoring committee was set up composed of the president of the displaced, his secretary, a displaced woman and a woman from the church; this committee is responsible in particular for the verification of the needs and use of water but also the order at the tap.

KAMBERE SEBUHINJA president of the displaced of the CEBCE church revealed to us "Really thank you very much for this assistance because you were the first to see the need we had here in relation to water. Since we settled here, it is only you with the church who are our family because the other NGOs do not care about us, perhaps because we are a minority but they know that every life counts. Today anyway we have water to shower regularly, drink and cook without worry. Our families no longer have to beg at households.  I as president am proud since my people will no longer cause insecurity in the neighborhood. »

The water monitoring committee has decided to open the tap twice a day, in the morning and in the evening.  Each family is entitled to at least three cans a day and this is done in an orderly manner.

Marceline added: "I assure you that today I no longer worry about water and it relieves me in any case. I was going to ask for water in the neighboring houses but there was some mistrust and then if someone blessed me with a 100 or 200fc to draw water I thanked the sky although the water was not enough.

After you brought water here, the committee set up allowed us to have at least three cans a day and we draw in order. May God bless your efforts and may He not cease to multiply the content of your resources.  You saved us and we are very happy, keep thinking about us. »

At the CBCA BUHENE church, water is used by the displaced and they no longer circulate in neighbouring houses to ask for it.

The need remains great but every gesture is a relief.

Mireille IKUZWE