Children of Congo
This has been taken from Bukiringi village, district Ituri, Oriental province; the eastern part DR Congo.
The image depicts lot of untold stories, their poverty, and their unhealthy and unhygienic life. Their size, their gesture including their look alike faces are telling that they are siblings. They all are most probably from the same parents. The small hut behind them is their small domicile, where they were born, and they will be brought up if the destiny and luck favor them. Because, each and everyday is quite uncertain due to political and other security hazards, they have to flee anytime, any moment. There is no guarantee of peaceful life in this area, moreover; it is easy to guarantee of war, unrest, looting, abduction, rapes. People lead a life here which nobody wants; they want a peaceful life in spite of their severe poverty. But, besides poverty, war and unrest including above mentioned disasters are becoming part and parcel of their life. Children and women spend a life here, sometimes, more it’s more dangerous than any other place in the world. To me, they experience a bitter life that might not be worse in hell.
April, 2011
Bukiringi, DR Congo
