* Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
The town of Dongo is situated in the North Equateur Province where the Ubangi River acts as a natural border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and its neighbour the Republic of Congo.
The population of this region fled over the river during an inter-tribal conflict here in late 2009 and are now returning home.
The repatriation is being facilitated by UNHCR and partner organisations. MAG is one of the key partners involved and, thanks to funding from ECHO (European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection), is working with the population to make them aware of the threats posed by explosive remnants of war and how to minimise the risks. Community Liaison teams are gathering information across the region on dangerous areas and technical teams are following up making the areas safe.
After a two-hour flight from Kinshasa, we landed on the small dirt strip surrounded by jungle. The airport terminal consisted of a two by three metre corrugated iron lean-to where an Immigration Official grumpily stamped our ‘Ordre de Mission’ documents. We then headed along a rutted and bumpy road in a MAG 4x4. Progress was very slow; I considered whether it would have been quicker to walk.
As soon as we unloaded our bags at the accommodation we were told that returnees were due to cross the river at any moment so we headed down there as quickly as we could. It was unbelievably hot. As the name of the province (Equateur) suggests, it straddles the equator and is always hot and humid. We were greeted by officials from the army, the government and UNHCR waiting on the riverbank, and I set up my equipment.
After a long hour in the heat we saw boats leaving the bank across the large expanse of the river heading our way full of returnees coming home for the first time in three years. When the boats finally drew-up to the bank names were called and families climbed off assisted by aid workers. It was a heart-warming sight to see babies and young children being passed from one helping pair of hands to another and then back to their smiling parents, happy to be on home soil.
They then walked the short distance to a row of UNHCR trucks onto which they were helped with their few belongings. Despite the lengthy process in the hot midday sun, the atmosphere was fantastic. People were clearly delighted to be making their way home.
It was late afternoon by the time the convoy of about four hundred people arrived at the transit camp just outside the town. People were processed and provided with assistance and advice on a wide range of issues including nutrition and HIV. The centre was adorned with large MAG signs warning people of the potential threat from unexploded and abandoned ordnance. The Community Awareness team performed an engaging risk education dramatisation describing the sorts of dangers they might encounter when they get home and what to do, and what not to do. It was loud and dramatic, and people stood up to applaud enthusiastically at the end.
This is just the beginning of the relationship between MAG and the returnees. The teams will follow up with more detailed risk education sessions, information gathering and, where necessary, clearance of dangerous items in their communities.
More on MAG’s work in the Democratic Republic of Congo: MAG DRC
More blog posts: MAG Blog
