As violence continues to uproot families from their homes, displaced persons in the Democratic Republic of Congo are supporting each other through a local association created to advocate for the protection of human rights and to find solutions for the problems faced by the most vulnerable among them.
A group of internally displaced people and their hosts in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu province have come together to form an association that advocates for the rights of their community and help find solutions to the problems they face.
AHCOPDI, an acronym which in French stands for: “Humanitarian Action for the Consolidation of Peace and Integrated Development”, relies on a network of volunteers to reach out to the most vulnerable. The association is supported by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and it’s work is mainly to advocate with multiple actors, authorities and humanitarian organisations, to improve the situation of the displaced and their hosts.
Seven out of its 20 members are displaced themselves. Jacqueline Kamala is one of them. The mother of two had to flee her village with her family due to repeated attacks by armed groups. She often walks long distances, carrying her 11-month-old son on her back, to visit families and find out about their needs.
More than 1 million people have been displaced in DRC this year by ongoing violence. North Kivu province hosts the highest number of internally displaced persons in the country. The displaced find shelter with host families, while others settle on organized or spontaneous sites.
Jacqueline managed to save her children from the violence that destroyed their home in eastern DRC. They sought refuge in North Kivu where thousands are struggling to start over. Jacqueline and other displaced joined an association to help each other.
Congo’s displaced lost everything. Jacqueline walks long distances to find them to ensure their voices are heard.
Jacqueline wants her community and children to be safe. Together with other volunteers and UNHCR’s support, she is trying to give them hope.SOUNDBITE (Swahili) Jacqueline Kamala, Internally Displaced Congolese:“I want my life to get better and to continue sending my kids to school. This will make me happy.” ~UNHCR
