Explaining War To who Leaves in Peace _ ON THE CONFLICT IN CONGO

Nella Repubblica Democratica del Congo, Solo chi puo scappa, chi no muore... solo chi puo mangia, chi no muore... Solo chi ha le gambe corre, chi no resta e... muore. Solo chi ha il coraggio di resistere puo sperare in un destino diverso, chi no solo disperare. Penso all'inferno di questa donna, e che se ero nata in Congo questa donna oggi ero io....

"There was a lot of gunfire and 'mabombi'(explotions) I saw them die; and after seeing them I knew we had to run away or else we would also die with them.
We ran through the night in the dark for a long time [...] and we suffered until we arrived at this camp.
We arrived with nothing but ourselves but I thank God that my family are all together. We are sleeping outside. It is raining a lot.
Life is desperate at the camp; we are going through a very difficult time.
We keep being told that they [...] are bringing us food but up till now it hasn't arrived and so we haven't got any food.

What I fear most is an outbreak of disease because there are so many of us staying here, all together and so close to one another.

The other thing I really fear is rape because we are sleeping all over.
The army could rape us women. Other men could also rape us.

Of everything though, the only thing I am asking for is peace.

Peace is my first priority."


Anatasia Ndaonduye, 30 _Congolese




IN THE PICs: CONGO's CHILD SOLDIERS
Groups of children are being kidnapped and forced to fight in the Democratic Republic of Congo, bolstering rebel militia numbers.
As the violence in the region escalates, HAS THE RESTORATION OF PEACE BECOME AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK FOR UN FORCES?

From BBC WORLD News