Laughter & Play in the Middle of Conflict

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Media contacts

Rachel Wolff 253.394.2214

Casey Calamusa 206.310.5476

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More newly displaced and desperate people are arriving every day to this camp of over 10,000 displaced people on the outskirts of Goma.

Established nearly 10 years ago, at the beginning of Congo’s chronic conflict, the Mugunga camp has received an influx of newly displaced persons since the outbreak of renewed heavy fighting in nearby areas.

Many of the new arrivals are children who have suffered violence or watched their families killed. Like most other places, people have managed to find temporary refuge, in very over-crowded and unsanitary conditions.

“We are here because we have nowhere else to go. It is not safe in my home and I left when I hear gunfire.” said a young girl who had taken in two orphan children who had also just arrived in the camp.

A young boy without the lower half of his right leg recounts how rebels entered his family’s house demanding money. He has spent just over a year at the camp, alone. He said that his father in another camp and his mother members of his family killed.

“They beat my father with sticks when he told them that he didn’t have money,” said the boy, Elisha Nzayisenga, displaced from the village of Mweso about 60 km. west of Goma. “They said he was hiding the money, then they killed my mother, cut my leg and left.”

Nearly half the camp population are children. Nearly 12 percent of girls have been raped by rebel groups. And about 40% have disabilities.

While the camp is surrounded by picturesque mountain scenery, it is far from hospitable. Roughly built grass huts sit on sharp, black volcanic rock. There is nowhere to grow food, nowhere for children to play. It is not a place for people to live their lives out and it’s especially not the place for children. But until peace returns a small patch of crumbling rock each family carves out for itself is all they have.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) had arrived and were distributing emergency food kits. Patiently people queue for hours waiting for a sack of flour, some sugar and oil, which is supposed to feed a family for 10 days.

“In Kibumba I had a garden growing my own vegetables. I didn’t need anyone to help me. It was enough for my family,’’ said an older man who had fled the violence with his wife a week earlier and had waited in the queue for an hour already.

World Vision has worked in the camp for many years and visits it every week, supports and care for people. But a huge growing need is activities and support for the thousands of children arriving who have been displaced by the violence.

"Education programmes have become hugely important as many of the children in the camp are often used for work and have little hope of ever attending formal education,” says Clariss, WV Congo’s child protection adviser (CHK title).

“In 2007 we started running creative and recreational activities especially for traumatised children. Every day new children arrive so the space is crowded and we need to create bigger spaces and more program for them….

A huge area has been created for them to play games, dance and run around. Football matches are sometimes organised bringing in teams from other camps around Goma.

Children run around singing and dancing to a song about how they fled their homes and how one day they will return and be able to live in their homes again and go to school.

World Visions children’s program in Mugunga camp is one of six still operating. The other six are in areas hit by recent violence and have been suspended until stability can be re-established.