Under the impatient gaze of war victims identified in Kisangani, in the province of Tshopo, the long road towards receiving individual compensation promised by the Special Fund for the distribution of compensation for victims (FRIVAO) is taking shape. One month after the identification operation closed, the slowness of the payment process is causing concern among beneficiaries.
At the end of January, the victim identification phase completed, certain local dignitaries began to openly express their impatience by calling on the victims to demand explanations from the FRIVAO. Contacted by the media, the institution’s communicator, Debah Boila Baelongandi, tries to reassure and calls for patience, ensuring that compensation will be paid soon.
The compensation process, initially planned to be completed quickly, appears to be encountering obstacles, thus delaying the payment of sums owed to victims. However, the FRIVAO claims to have finalized the processing of pending files and promises that compensation will be distributed within a month to a month and a half, as specified by rapporteur Mimi Mupunga during her last communication.
This unexpected delay legitimately raises questions among victims who are impatiently awaiting the payment of this compensation. While war victims have already suffered painful ordeals, this prolonged wait only adds to their frustration and highlights the shortcomings of the compensation process.
It becomes imperative for FRIVAO to accelerate the process in order to meet the legitimate expectations of victims and offer them the financial support they are due. Transparency and efficiency in the management of this fund are essential to restore the confidence of victims and ensure fair and equitable reparation for the suffering endured.