Dear friends,
We are deeply saddened in letting you know that all Nyankunde is in fire and blood. It all started on Thursday morning around 8:30, while everyone was already at work, that people noticed that the Ngiti militiamen with some rebel soldiers were entering Nyankunde. Shooting started immediately and people (men, women and children) run into every direction trying to find a hiding place. Many of us could not reach our homes and families and were obliged to spend the night where we were, esp. in the hospital wards as the shooting continued throughout the night. The result of the fighting (between Ngiti militiamen mixed with rebel soldiers against the hema militiamen) is catastrophic and very heavy: All but three homes have been broken into and savagely looted and or destroyed. Offices, shops, homes of CME staff /personnel, MAF houses and homes of local population are now in a state impossible to describe.
There has been great loss of human lives. However, we do not have yet the final count (which seems to be over hundred). We are all emotionally extremely disturbed and still in shock and are trying to leave Nyankunde at all costs. Unfortunately, roads between Nyankunde and Bunia (45Km) or Nyankunde and Oicha (170Km) are the most unsafe right now. Those are the only two possible destinations where people would like to head for to avoid catastrophe, the worse having happened already.
Missionaries were evacuated at the limit, on Friday the 6th by MAF planes after tough negotiations with the rebels and the tribal militiamen, to let the planes land and take off with people.
Doctors, nursing staff, administration staff, are forced (by what happened) to leave Nyankunde if it becomes possible, in search of a safe place. Some left under shock, and are heading to Oicha (170Km south) by foot through the bush and heavy forest. Another group is trying to walk to Bunia should the road sound a bit safe. There are no guarantee that Nyankunde will have troops soon to protect people and whatever is left to be called their belongings. The most important thing right now, as far as people are concerned is to save their lives.
Almost all communication equipments have been taken from the CME and MAF.
The main concerns for the remaining CME leaders are (= prayer request):
1. How to evacuate those families still in Nyankunde without help. All
shops
have been looted, this means there no way of finding the basic supplies i.e.
sugar, soap, salt, cooking oil, and other food stuff.
2. What will be the future of the CME from now on? Theoretically, CME
should
close right now even just temporarily (according to our emergency plan).
3. How to preserve and save from looters the remaining equipment,
medicines,
4. Wisdom from above to take care of close to 2000 people (mainly women
and
children) as we are already running out of food.
5. Wisdom when talking or negotiating with rebels for different matters
If you want to help us, here few options for our friends and CME partners:
a) To inform embassies and the international community/UN, raise their awareness of the situation in this region so that they can send UN planes to help evacuate the families,
b) Raise fund for food and medical emergencies. It's an urgent need.
The Executive Committee of CME, RDCongo
NB: we try to avoid mentioning names for security reasons. Please do the same when replying
8 september 2002