Goma taken over by rebel troops on Jan. 27

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries are working to support more than 30,000 people in a camp in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo*. On Jan. 27, the city of Goma was taken over by rebel troops that have been surrounding it for months. More than 2,000 people joined the 3,500 families who were already being cared for in the camp that was set up in the soccer fields of the Salesian center a year ago.

A Salesian explained, “Goma is closed. There are no schools and the shops are not open. Everyone is waiting to see what might happen.”

The Salesian added, “There are more than 30,000 people, mostly women and children that have come to us for safety. More spaces are already being prepared at Don Bosco Ngangi for the possible arrival of displaced people, and thousands of people have entered and occupied spaces in the soccer fields and also inside the building.”

Among the many Salesian organizations that support the Salesians in Goma is the Salesian Mission office in Madrid, Spain, which is committed to helping provide support for those displaced.

Luis Manuel Moral, director of the Salesian Mission office in Madrid, said, “The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a country where more than 2.8 million children suffer from acute malnutrition. We are also Salesian missionaries who are helping in the Kanyaruchinya settlement, which today has more than 75,000 displaced persons.”

The country has already suffered more than 30 years of fighting involving more than 122 rebel groups fighting for control of minerals. The country has 80% of the world’s reserves of coltan, which is necessary for the batteries of electronic devices and electric cars. The population is suffering a continuous humanitarian disaster that worsened at the end of 2022 and that today leaves almost 7 million people displaced and more than 25.4 million in need of aid to survive.

Salesian missionaries have been working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for more than 100 years ensuring that the most vulnerable children are not forgotten. Salesian primary and secondary schools and programs lay the foundation for early learning while Salesian trade, vocational and agricultural programs offer many youth the opportunity for a stable and productive future.

###

Sources:

Photo courtesy of Misiones Salesianas

ANS – Democratic Republic of the Congo – ‘Thousands of people take refuge in the mission after Goma has been invaded’

Salesian Missions – Democratic Republic of the Congo

UNICEF – DR Congo

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.