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Living with violence in the DR Congo | Living with violence in the DR Congo |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Since last October, the Democratic Republic of Congo's Kasai region has been wracked by violence, leading to the deaths of many civilians. | Since last October, the Democratic Republic of Congo's Kasai region has been wracked by violence, leading to the deaths of many civilians. |
These fatalities are the result of clashes between the army and a government-backed militia known as the Bana Mura, and a rebel group called Kamuina Nsapu. | These fatalities are the result of clashes between the army and a government-backed militia known as the Bana Mura, and a rebel group called Kamuina Nsapu. |
Many villages have been burned down and it is estimated that more than a million people have been displaced in the region in the past year. | Many villages have been burned down and it is estimated that more than a million people have been displaced in the region in the past year. |
Photographer John Wessels travelled to the region and met those who have been caught up in the fighting. | Photographer John Wessels travelled to the region and met those who have been caught up in the fighting. |
Bernadette | |
"I was stabbed, children were drowned and because we fled after the houses were burned down, we lost everything. | "I was stabbed, children were drowned and because we fled after the houses were burned down, we lost everything. |
"The people of Tshikapa city were kind enough to help us. We stay here on the floor, but we have neither a bed nor sheets. | "The people of Tshikapa city were kind enough to help us. We stay here on the floor, but we have neither a bed nor sheets. |
"Because of the ethnic conflict it is impossible to go back home. They will recognise our language and kill us." | "Because of the ethnic conflict it is impossible to go back home. They will recognise our language and kill us." |
Emmanuel | |
"Our enemies came in the middle of the day, they told us they were going to kill us and burn our houses. | "Our enemies came in the middle of the day, they told us they were going to kill us and burn our houses. |
"They finally came with their machetes a few days ago. I lost everything, my wife, my boy, my daughter. They also killed my older brother." | "They finally came with their machetes a few days ago. I lost everything, my wife, my boy, my daughter. They also killed my older brother." |
"When they came they burned everything and I also lost my two diplomas. That was all I had. I can never get them back. | "When they came they burned everything and I also lost my two diplomas. That was all I had. I can never get them back. |
"Now I do not know where to go or what to do." | "Now I do not know where to go or what to do." |
Anny, 30 | |
"The militia of Kamuina Nsapu came during the night while we slept. We had already heard rumours that we would be attacked so I had prepared a package of food. | "The militia of Kamuina Nsapu came during the night while we slept. We had already heard rumours that we would be attacked so I had prepared a package of food. |
"I fled with my husband and five children, ranging from 11 years to six months old. They fired on my husband during the flight. | "I fled with my husband and five children, ranging from 11 years to six months old. They fired on my husband during the flight. |
"I would like to join my family in the capital, Kinshasa but it is impossible because the trip costs 60,000 Congolese francs (£28.50) per head and we have no money; I will never leave my children alone. | "I would like to join my family in the capital, Kinshasa but it is impossible because the trip costs 60,000 Congolese francs (£28.50) per head and we have no money; I will never leave my children alone. |
"Today, I no longer have strength because I am weakened by the malaria that I caught in the forest and because of the lack of food." | "Today, I no longer have strength because I am weakened by the malaria that I caught in the forest and because of the lack of food." |
Raphael | |
Raphael Kabulewu has been a pastor since 1999, and sits outside the Biyega Health Clinic in Tshikapa. | Raphael Kabulewu has been a pastor since 1999, and sits outside the Biyega Health Clinic in Tshikapa. |
"Since April I have welcomed many orphaned children who arrived at the health centre covered in blood. We now have 200 residents. | "Since April I have welcomed many orphaned children who arrived at the health centre covered in blood. We now have 200 residents. |
"They have seen their parents die before their eyes, they have lost everything. | "They have seen their parents die before their eyes, they have lost everything. |
"Now I would like to be able to feed them and give them medicines against diarrhoea and fever." | "Now I would like to be able to feed them and give them medicines against diarrhoea and fever." |
Sara, 33 | |
"My son was born a week ago. When I fled my village with my two children, my husband was killed by beheading. I think of it all the time. | |
"When I arrived, here the nurses and the pastor helped me. | "When I arrived, here the nurses and the pastor helped me. |
"I hope that my children will be able to return to school and that they will have a better life." | "I hope that my children will be able to return to school and that they will have a better life." |
Anne | |
"I was hit on the head with machete blows. I fell to the ground and they thought I was dead. | "I was hit on the head with machete blows. I fell to the ground and they thought I was dead. |
"My two children were only spared because they did what I told them to do, they lay down in the blood and played dead. | "My two children were only spared because they did what I told them to do, they lay down in the blood and played dead. |
"This centre is the only place where I feel that we are safe." | "This centre is the only place where I feel that we are safe." |
Astride, 39 | |
"I come from the town of Senge, with my two daughters and my boy. | "I come from the town of Senge, with my two daughters and my boy. |
"They were very ill on the way and when we arrived here, after walking for two weeks in the bush, they were very sick. | "They were very ill on the way and when we arrived here, after walking for two weeks in the bush, they were very sick. |
"When we arrived here the pastor helped us a lot. We were able to find some food and then clothes. | "When we arrived here the pastor helped us a lot. We were able to find some food and then clothes. |
"I am a teacher but unfortunately I lost my diploma. My dream would be to build a school for children who had to flee their home." | "I am a teacher but unfortunately I lost my diploma. My dream would be to build a school for children who had to flee their home." |
All photographs subject to copyright. | All photographs subject to copyright. |
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