Last Friday I went to Bouar.
60km with no cars or trucks on the road. Upon arriving in Bouar, I found a few soldiers near their camp (and I hoped they were regular soldiers, because they were dressed and armed in the most diverse ways). I passed into the city center (where all the shops were closed) and arrived at the Cathedral. Here there were about 3,000 people who fled their homes (because the rebels were scattered throughout the various neighborhoods).
Rebel militias faced the army, and as always, it was the poor people who lost out! In Africa it has been said that when 2 elephants fight, it is the grass that gets crushed.
Many people left their homes and reached various churches and convents: the Cathedral, the parish of Fatima, the Capuchin convent of St. Laurent and that of the Carmelites of St. Elie.
The issue is serious, also because on Sunday January 17th there were other fights, and the number of refugees doubled, from 6,400 to more than 14,000 people!
Some UN bodies and agencies have been working hard, but the situation has been very difficult: we need to think about water, hygiene, sanitation, food, weather, and the wave of children who make up most of the refugees.
Being Caritas, we organize ourselves to
do what we can. Many friends are working hard to support us,
organizations (more sisters than friends now!) are helping us: Caritas
Germany, Caritas Internationalis, Siriri.org. Here is the first
intervention program:
In Bozoum the situation is tense, but I managed to visit and shop, and left on Wednesday morning (unfortunately around 10 am they informed me that a young man was killed by the 3R rebels…).
In Bozoum they asked me about the Fair. I also passed quickly to visit the gardens, which are a splendor. In theory this weekend we should have been organizing the Bozoum Fair. For now it is not possible. Will it be possible to do it in a month? We do not know!
On Monday, January 18th the Constitutional Court declared the current president the winner of the elections. Out of 1,800,000 voters, only a third were able to vote ... But the announcement of the decision of the Constitutional Court did not satisfy either the rebels or the opposition, and therefore the tension and war continues.
Wednesday I returned to Bouar, and at 11 we had a meeting with the leaders of the various refugee sites, and we discussed the situation and the biggest problems (hygiene, food and safety). The problems are many, but Charity, Faith and Hope are stronger!
Will anyone hear the cry of so many people? Who, in one way or another, is responsible for this tragedy, and who will do anything to stop the violence?
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| Cattedrale - Bouar |
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| Gli orti di Bozoum 2021 les jardins potager de Bozoum 2021 |
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| Fattura del riso: circa 3.600 euro Facture du riz: en gros 3.600 euro |
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| Bozoum |
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| St.Elie |
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| Formazione dei catechisti a Bawi Formation des catéchistes à Bawi |
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