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Latest News and Stories from the Congo |
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Congo the “world's deadliest humanitarian catastrophe” – May 2006
"While international attention is currently focused on other crises, the DRC remains the world's deadliest humanitarian catastrophe," said Ross Mountain, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Congo. An estimated 10 million people need life-saving assistance and about 1,200 people die every day.
The UN has launched an appeal for $682 million in order to provide water, food, shelter and medical assistance ($0.18 per person/day). Nations like Italy, France and Germany have provided next to nothing and the United States and Japan have given relatively little. |  |
The UN declared 2006 “the year of DRC” recognizing this year as the countries best opportunity to establish peace and recovery since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960. The country is set to hold its first truly democratic national elections on July 30.
The most recent war officially ended in 2003. It was a 5 year conflict involving 6 African nations and estimated to have killed 4 million people, largely through hunger and disease. Today the largest UN peacekeeping force ever, about 17,000, is deployed across Congo to make sure the election takes place. However, despite their efforts, insecurity plagues the mineral-rich east where bands of gunmen terrorize civilians by raping, pillaging and killing.
Hoeppners visit Congo sent by Westside Community Church in Morden, MB
What brings an agriculturalist, a nurse and their 2 children to the Congo from Morden, Manitoba?
The Morden MB church committed themselves to work in Congo sealing it by sending the Hoeppners to visit Edgard Kimbau and MB development projects in the Kikwit area. They visited a number of “associations” growing manioc, chic peas, peanuts, palm trees and manioc. They also visited the Kibolo farm , a vast property in the country Edgard hopes to transform into a agriculture experimental and teaching farm.
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These agriculture associations bring their produce to market on their heads or bikes and seek advice from BTEDE (see above) to improve their fields. The money they make helps their families, but they also give a certain percentage to development projects including the local church building and health clinic.
How can we encourage these activities? What can we do to foster this vision? That’s why the Hoeppners went to Congo. We will be hearing more from Morden as this develops.
Kanzombi Clinic receives gift from Meadow Brook Fellowship in Leamington, ON
No mattresses, one stethoscope, one working blood pressure cuff. This is Kanzombi clinic, the second biggest health facility in a community of over 500,000.
But the situation is improving. Last year there was no doctor at the clinic. This year, Dr Mbenza has agreed to consult part time at the clinic and Dr Narcisse Mulanda is receiving further training (1 year internship) to come back to Kanzombi full-time.
Meadow Brook Fellowship in Leamington Ontario donated $6000 to purchase some supplies. Diagnostic supplies including operating instruments have already arrived. Mattresses are still on their way. We hope to have replenished their solar system by July with batteries and controllers. | 
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Let’s hope that these kind of relationships can continue: from church to specific project. Thank-you Meadow Brook Fellowship for participating. We hope its not finished.
Bakerview Church from Abbotsford, BC visits Congo again
Bakerview church caught the vision and responded to the need. They raised $120,000 and have already sent out 2 teams to Kinshasa. What was the need?
The church in Congo felt that the Christian University of Kinshasa, or UCKIN, was an important institution for leadership development but did not have the resources to make a go of it. The school has a theological school, economics faculty and a medical school. Costs to run these faculties are enormous let alone rehabilitation of buildings and purchasing equipment.
Bakerview agreed to renovate buildings and buy some equipment for the laboratory. But more than that, Bakerview has entered a relationship that they want to continue.
In July another team will be visiting Congo. In October, educational advisors from Bakerview will be visiting. And ion the years to come there will be more. | 
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CIDA project finally gets off the ground
The first money transfer was sent last month and the first medications are being purchased for needy villages in the interior. After a number of bureaucratic delays its good to see that people are finally starting to benefit. This also means that the peace program and savings and loans program, which have already been operating, will be given a boost with the funding that will be coming their way.
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Click here to download the Summer 2006 Witness (