Washington, DC, November 12, 2008 – Amidst widespread violence and massive human suffering Women for Women International is preparing to respond to the needs of thousands of women who are threatened by the fighting and are in urgent need of assistance.
“We will reach out to more women including those who now live in displacement camps in and around Goma and hope to offer sponsorships to the most vulnerable among them,” says Karen Sherman, Executive Director of Global Programs with Women for Women International. “Since most women are not able to come to us, we will go to them and offer assistance through financial aid and on-site training.”
Christine Karumba, the DR Congo Country Director
The direct assistance will help them to pay for food, medicine, and other lifesaving needs. Since the latest outbreak of violence more than 250,000 people have been forced to leave their homes over the last few weeks alone, bringing the total number of displaced to more than 1.2 million.
The worst fighting is occurring close to the provincial capital city of Goma, where Women for Women is training and assisting almost 1,000 women. The UN is reporting that retreating fighters have gone on a rape and looting rampage just 60 miles north of Goma. In another incident on Tuesday night 75,000 people fled their homes following a gun battle in Kibati, just six miles from the city.
“More than half of our women are missing classes in our training program in Goma,” says Christine Karumba via phone from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “Due to the volatile situation they are unable to reach our training facilities.”
“We worry that many of our women have been displaced and lost all their belongings – or, even worse, have once again become victims of violence. We will find them as soon as the situation allows us to go to their homes and help them to reintegrate into the program.” says Karumba.
Over the past decade, a brutal conflict has devastated much of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), leaving the country without a functioning infrastructure and most families in a state of crisis. More than five million people have died as a result of the violent conflict, most through disease and malnutrition and. Women are often directly targeted by combatants using rape and other forms of sexual violence as a weapon of war.
Women for Women International in DR Congo is currently assisting almost 7,000 women through financial support and a one year program that includes rights awareness, health education, and skills training. The organization works with communities in Bukavu, Goma, Fizi and Baraka in the heavily affected South and North Kivu provinces in Eastern Congo.
Tags: Add new tag, congo, congo crisis, Congo women, Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC, Eastern Congo, Goma, rape, UN, women, women as weapon of war, Women for Women International
November 13, 2008 at 10:56 pm |
We have set up a website to help chronicle what is going on in the DRC http://drc.ushahidi.com – reports can be submitted online or via a local mobile number. Please help spread the word to your staff on the ground, we believe it is so important to increase awareness about the local conditions and condition by amplifying the voices of the LOCAL people rather than relying just on third-party reports. We have also added your organization to the how to help page.
November 16, 2008 at 12:19 am |
Ms. Karumba,
My name is Rasheedah Shabazz. I am a masters candidate for a degree in Conflict Transformation. I greatly value your work and diligence to work with the women who are affected by the war and uplift them to overcome this difficult time.
If by any chance you are in need of an intern for 2009 starting in the summer. I would love to work with you in this struggle.
Mandisa Ngozi (Sweet Blessings)
**************************
Rasheedah Shabazz
M.A. Conflict Transformation Candidate
SIT Graduate Institute
Rasheedah.Shabazz@mail.sit.edu
November 16, 2008 at 12:09 pm |
The horror and heartbreak continue. Without a strong unified message to the UN urging action by women and their supporters around the world these atrocities will continue. We must urgently seek to give these women a voice they do not yet have and wage our own WAR to support ending this type of violence. WAR “Women Against Rape”
November 19, 2008 at 3:29 pm |
Myself and several other women sponsor someone from the Congo. We are so worried about her. Below is our contact information for Eliza. If you know anything about her status and her family please email me. We have only received 1 letter from her since our sponsorship began over 6 months ago.
Thanks
Ann Brooks
Your Name: Ann Brooks
Sponsor ID# 453554694
Sister’s Name: Eliza Moza Putombo
Woman Group: Ndoko/Baraka
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo
November 19, 2008 at 3:30 pm |
awaiting a response from comment above. Thanks
December 19, 2008 at 9:41 pm |
Nancy
I just read your comment and couldnt agree more. What is happening to Women and children in the DRC haunts me every minuete of every day. I volunteer for Human rights organizations by way of letter writing campains and will be makeing a donation to Panzi Hospital in Congo. But it is not enoph. Mass rape should be considered an act of terrorism. I want to do so much more, but I am frustrated at the incredibly slow (or non existant) response from the international community!
January 19, 2009 at 4:32 pm |
I’m congolese asylee in US.I WANT TO RUN WITH YOU.There are my email and my website.
February 18, 2009 at 6:00 pm |
Hello,
I have been an RN for over twenty years and I have just written my first book. The book is entitled: From Ashes to Glory: The pathway to healing from sexual abuse. Although I haven’t been a victim of this act myself I have written it from a biblical and medical perspective using the character in scripture, Tamar, King’s David daughter to discribe the horrendous act. Please visit my website to read a nine page excerpt, click on books to read. My website is: hiddenjewelsintl.org. I pray that you enjoy the read.
Barbara Smith, RN
March 9, 2009 at 2:23 am |
international community should react and collection of funds through the web site is not advisable
June 14, 2009 at 10:03 am |
YAA Adding this to my bookmarks. Thank You