* Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Continued...
[see also: part one and part two]
Over the next few days we accompanied both the Community Liaison (CL) and technical teams. More than 20 items were dealt with by the technical team, some of which they had to blow up where they were found while others were safe to move.
One of the CL teams focused on gathering information on suspected items and areas and the other providing risk education presentations and meeting community focal points and authorities. MAG has a partnership with the national Red Cross in this region. The Red Cross are well established and very respected by the community and the partnership is extremely effective. The teams are trained and led by MAG staff and are extremely enthusiastic and motivated.
Generally, Dongo was extremely positive and there was a real sense of hope and optimism, but on my last day I photographed a pygmy family living in the bush just behind a village. They had been repatriated three days earlier and their situation was terrible. Twenty-five people were living in a makeshift shelter that was not waterproof (it is wet season here) five metres by six metres. Some were sick and very despondent. They have been given mosquito nets and cooking post and have been promised other help including building materials. I hope they get them soon.
It was great to witness the incredible high-impact work the teams are carrying out in Dongo. Without them many people would be living in fear and be unable to use land for agriculture or to build houses.
My visit was action packed and very rewarding. Conditions were extremely basic and the roads were horrendous. We have staff all over the country delivering life-saving activities in very challenging environments. It is incredible work and it was a privilege to witness it first hand.
More on MAG’s work in the Democratic Republic of Congo: MAG DRC
More blog posts: MAG Blog
