Congo-Brazzaville: a land of Rwandan refugees

Brazzaville, the capital, is situated in the south-east of the country, on the River Congo, opposite Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In 1971, the first three Daughters of Charity arrived in Brazzaville. Several communities now work in the Archdiocese of Brazzaville.

For more than five years, the community of Notre Dame de la Médaille Miraculeuse des Filles de la Charité in Brazzaville has included in its mission the service of Rwandan refugees living in alarming poverty. Since 2017, these Rwandan refugees no longer have the legal status of "refugees" in Congo-Brazzaville and can therefore no longer access basic services (health, education, etc.).
The sisters look after the people living in the Kintélé camp, most of whom are very vulnerable: people living alone and very poor families, traumatised people of all ages, the seriously ill, the exhausted elderly and people with disabilities.

Deplorable and worrying living conditions at the Kintélé camp

Access to basic necessities is a daily headache. Refugees work hard throughout the day just to obtain food, which is far from sufficient and healthy. Malnutrition makes them very fragile and exposes them to more diseases.

They live in very cramped, mostly dilapidated shacks made of old metal sheets, tarpaulins or wood.

What's more, they are continually threatened by the owners of the land who want to drive them out of the camp. Fortunately, the government has banned all threats until further notice...

"Regular contact with the refugees during visits to the camp and accompanying the sick to hospital has enabled us to understand the distressing reality of the refugees. They confidently expressed their need for drinking water, healthcare, schooling for their children and, above all, food." Sr Pascaline

The project will help to combat famine in the Kintélé camp by enabling 10 Rwandan families to farm a plot of land, while providing them with work:

- rental of a large plot

- rental of a tractor

- purchase of seeds

- purchase of tools and equipment for clearing, preparing the land, cultivating and harvesting.

With them, thanks to you!