Congolese Refugees
...ist and troops but it was more than that. The millions of people who died, people who had to live under such inhumane conditions. Dara the story of the girl related in this book was an experience that no one that age should have to live. My dad always taught me that humans are creatures who get and get and every time they get they want more, but we have to open our eyes and see that life is not that easy for many other people. We never know what turns life may take, maybe tomorrow World War III might break, you and I might end up in a refugee camp. What has happened in Congo ? Why are there refugees there ? Not only are there many Congolese refugees but Congo is hosting refugees from Angola, Sudan, Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda. In October of 1996 a civil war erupted in Congo/Zaire. During this civil war there were many events one of them was by some rebels Troops called Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo and Zaire (ADFL) who seized large sections of eastern Zaire. Later when the war was over the leaders changed the name from Zaire to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The refugees began crossing into Tanzania after a group of Congolese rebels launched a military campaign to overthrow the government of the president Laurent-Desire Kabila. There are several refugee camps one is the Nyarugusu refugee camp, the Mtendeli and the Moyovosi and many other. There was still a lot of violence even after the civil war ended in may of 1997. There were also many deaths and horrid massacres there was one experience told by a member of the Association of Medical Doctors AMDA he went to help out at the refugee camps and as he describes it was far beyond any kind of poverty seen in the US.1 It's hard to accept something that is unfair at the Age of Dara. Not only for her but for the many kids in Congo and in Cambodia. I've learned a lot about the Congolese refugees but yet I haven't found a story such as "The Clay Marble" 2 It's hard to be brave and maintain hope like she did. In Africa News there was a story of a boy who got separated from his family3 and to this day he hasn't found them he doesn't know if they are dead or alive, the difference is he didn't set out to look for them. A key thing in a refugee situation is not to let hope die. it's understandable that it's not an easy situation and that one can stumble easily. That's how rebels are formed in refugee camps and there are always some of those. In Zaire there were some which resulted in many deaths, all for a simple attempt from the people return to their home to take back what belonged to them. But my friend when you lose your land and every thing in a war it's hard to get it back. Pe...