Goma Refugee Camp desperately needs your help

A human tragedy is unfolding in the Democratic Republic of Congo – yet the chances are, you haven’t heard of it.

A refugee camp in Goma, one of the country’s biggest cities, is now home to hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians, fleeing a war waged by Rwanda-backed militia groups.

These people are living in extreme destitution. The small amount of support they are receiving from charitable organisations and NGOs is inadequate to meet their needs. Many of these NGOs no longer have funding.

Living in makeshift shelters, in conditions of extreme overcrowding, men, women and children in the Goma camp are exposed to disease, malnutrition, harsh weather and violence.

Women make up the majority of these displaced people, and many of them are victims of sexual abuse. Some endure victimization and stigmatization, with unwanted pregnancies resulting from rape. A report by Médecins Sans Frontières found that over 70 women experience sexual assault every day in the camp.

People in Goma are in desperate need of help. Three organisations – the National Association of Social Workers in DRC and NGOs Fracarita and Sapoddi – have come together to create an emergency project to make sure they receive the psychotherapeutic support they need. This includes offering interventions to help people overcome trauma, equipping people with essential coping strategies, helping people access local mental health services and improving awareness of gender-based violence. So far Fracarita has put in US$25,000, but we urgently need another US$25,000.

Will you please help us to reach our goal, by making a donation? Any donation, however small, is welcome, and will help us to support the Goma refugees.

Thank you in advance.