Kasai: Time to break the silence

Conflict has devastated the Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It has left behind a complex humanitarian crisis.

A ruined landscape confronts survivors returning home: villages burned, fields stripped of crops, disease epidemics on the rise. Three planting seasons have been missed.

Without aid, many vulnerable people will simply not survive the hardships they face. “This is a truly disastrous humanitarian emergency,” says Jean-Pierre Pokavu of Caritas Congo. “The needs are enormous.”

Caritas has launched an emergency appeal for the war-affected population, and is already at work distributing food, essential household supplies, hygiene kits. Caritas agencies continue with their long-term support to the region.

Pope Francis has called for a day of fasting and prayer for peace for Congo and South Sudan. The UN has given Kasai its highest emergency rating.

It’s time to break the silence.

“I had five children and my husband,” mourns widow Denise Ndekenya. “Now I only have two children left ….” Militia attacked Denise’s village last April and killed her family. Her husband was decapitated.

Denise was in hospital at the time with two of her children. Warned by neighbours what had happened, instead of returning home she set off on a long, dangerous journey through the bush with her children. Finally she arrived at St Augustine’s parish near Tshikapa, where she is being helped by Caritas.

“What am I going to do now?” asks Denise. “I feel such sorrow.” It is a sentiment shared by too many.

In 2017, nearly one and a half million people fled their homes in the Kasai region of DRC, as a murderous conflict between local militia Kamuina Nsapu and the Congolese army dragged civilians into its vortex.

The five provinces of Kasai are usually stable, unlike the notorious eastern side of DRC where violence has ruled for decades. The human cost in Kasai has been tremendous, with at least 3,000 deaths and 87 mass graves recorded. Maiming, killing, sexual violence and forced recruitment of children are rife. Between 40-60% of the militia are children aged 8-18.

“The Catholic Church is present in every Congolese village,” explains Abbé Donatien Nshole, spokesperson for the Congolese Bishops’ Conference. “So we have access to areas not covered by the UN.”

Longstanding partnerships with local organisations have allowed Caritas to play a leading role in responding to the crisis. From saving lives via sms, to providing start-up household kits, Caritas is mobilising its international and national networks to help rebuild Kasai.

“No pots and pans, nothing to eat. Thank God this help from Caritas arrived just in time.” – Denise Ndekenya

Urgent basic needs of returnees, displaced people and their host families are being met by CRS (Caritas USA), who are working to reach 258,000 people with cash grants, essential household items and food. Special priority is being given to families headed up by women, when so many have lost husbands to the conflict. This is one of several emergency programmes currently being run by Caritas members right across the Kasai region.

“We will go on striving to help our population,” says Fr Pierre Mulumba, coordinator for Caritas Luebo, who delivered emergency food and household start-up kits to 3,600 vulnerable people (600 families) in Tshikapa in February, in the same project that is helping widow Denise Ndekenya.

Families received enough food supplies for around three months, including maize flour, beans, salt and oil. “We are helping a further 12,000 people with water, sanitation and hygiene kits,” Fr Pierre reports.

Many of these families are led by widowed mothers like Denise, who have been living in the bush for many months and have nothing at all. In her words: “No pots and pans, nothing to eat. Thank God this help from Caritas arrived just in time.”

The war-affected communities of Kasai need long-term help to rebuild their homes, plant crops, to reconcile their divisions and heal their traumas. Children need a healthy diet, clean water to drink and  protection from disease.

CRS (Caritas USA) have a five-year programme that will reach over a million people across Kasai Central and Eastern Kasai. This aims to improve people’s food supply and their dietary range, provide clean water and sanitation and boost their family economy.

Villagers in Bena Mabika, Eastern Kasai, work with CRS on improving food, sanitation and economic security.” Photo by Sam Phelps/CRS

“It calls for a lot of courage.” – Theodore Kazadi, Caritas Belgium

Much of this household welfare depends on the women of Kasai, who need support on many levels to start over. They have been worst affected by war, yet they are the mainstay of the precarious family economy.

“Agricultural production is entirely in the hands of women,” says Jean Ambela of CRS. “Yet these same women have been excluded from all development programmes.”

Caritas is helping women in Kasai become literate, and train as leaders within their communities so that their rights can be recognised and their voice heard in community decision-making. But in this traditionally male-dominated society, there is a long way to go.

“It is a question of changing attitudes,” says Theodore Kazadi of Caritas Belgium. “It calls for a lot of courage.”

Residents map out aspects of their village they want to improve including health, sanitation, access to clean water and education. CRS 5-year project, Bena Mabika, Eastern Kasai. Photo by Sam Phelps/CRS