Fatshimetrie – Thousands of displaced people desperately seek help in Manzasay, Democratic Republic of Congo
The territory of Bagata, located in the Kwilu region, in the southwest of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is facing a critical humanitarian situation. Indeed, more than 5,200 newly displaced people have found refuge in Manzasay, fleeing the exactions of the “Mobondo” militias. These men, women and children find themselves in precarious living conditions, housed in five classrooms urgently requisitioned to accommodate them.
Amédée Mbangambuma, administrator of the territory, sounds the alarm about the situation of these displaced people, calling them “forgotten displaced people”. Indeed, these vulnerable populations fear the imminent arrival of the rainy season and the start of the school year, without having the certainty of being able to benefit from adequate assistance. The humanitarian crisis they are facing requires a rapid and effective response from the authorities.
The visit of humanitarian actors on the ground made it possible to note the urgency of the situation. The displaced persons, mostly women and children, live in subhuman conditions, exposed to bad weather and the lack of basic resources. Faced with this critical situation, the national deputy Garry Sakata, elected from Bagata, calls on the government for immediate intervention.
Among the most urgent needs identified by the interveners on the ground, we find the provision of mattresses to ensure a minimum of comfort for the displaced persons, as well as the distribution of food to alleviate food insecurity. It is also crucial to provide school books to displaced children, in order to guarantee their access to education despite the difficult circumstances in which they find themselves.
The massive displacement of these populations in Manzasay follows the attacks of the “Mobondo” militias in the surrounding villages, forcing the inhabitants to abandon their homes to flee the violence. The appeal for assistance launched by local authorities and humanitarian actors aims to ensure the safety and well-being of these displaced people, who risk being left to fend for themselves if no action is taken quickly.
Ultimately, the situation of the displaced people in Manzasay illustrates the need for a coordinated and effective humanitarian response to address the urgency of the crisis. It is imperative that the authorities take the necessary measures to meet the essential needs of these displaced populations, by providing them with material, financial and logistical support adapted to their critical situation. The future of thousands of displaced people’s lives depends on the solidarity and commitment of the actors concerned to come to their aid in this period of extreme vulnerability.