Humanitarian activities in DRC

a group of young generation charging their cellular phones in a camp
of Bangladeshi peacekeepers at KOMANDA in DR Congo. 

Preface

I am fortunate as I could involve myself with various types of activities for the betterment of the mass people of an African country. To reach the folks of DR Congo, I entitled myself with Bangladesh Army who are prominent and already been praised by their activities as peace builders in war-torn African countries. As a part of those teams I kept myself involved with numerous types of humanitarian activities in the remote areas of DR Congo. Of course I was not a fighter with arms moreover I fought to provide them a healthy and prosperous life so that they become able to lead a life with dignity. Credit goes to others as well with who I worked there tenure of three years contractual service. I saw it closely how they, the Bangladeshi casque blues, worked hard in an unsecured and undeveloped zone where life is always under a terrible threat. Though I was a civilian but worked there as a uniformed personal and my responsibility was to facilitate communication with the local in several languages. I tried my best to execute my job appropriately. Language is one of the vital elements for communication, and as our tasks were always with the local people I used to keep myself busy in almost all sorts of activities. Here I feel to mention a small portion of huge works we frequently executed in the soil of DR Congo.

The youngest cowboy of Africa

It was a wonderful experience to meet a 4/5 years old boy who was controlling a big herd of cattle in a remote vast hilly area of DR Congo. Basically we (one of my colleagues and a local boy who used to work for us were also with me) went to the area with a reference of local chief to buy several cows from a herdsman for an upcoming festival which will be celebrated by the Bangladeshi peace-keepers in eastern Congo. However, to reach the cow-owner we were advised to go to his house or a field where his cattle were grazing. We went to his house and got him absent there. So we planned to go the field to catch him. The area was green with scattered small bush and herbs. Visualizing few red cows from faraway we sensed that that’s the destination we aimed at. After half an hour journey by a jeep, we could reach there. Unfortunately the owner was not there, and the cattle were being looked after by a small kid. We became astonished to see the courage of a small child who was smartly handling more than thirty cows including oxen and bullocks.

Education system of DR Congo

Generally the education system of DR Congo can be classified in four ways: 1. Kindergarten, 2. Primary School, 3. Secondary School and, 4. University and Higher Institution.

 Normally Kindergarten schooling starts from very early age of a child. One can go for it at age of 3 and can continue up to five years. It is not obligatory, without formal kindergarten schooling, it is possible to get admitted directly to primary school. Primary school education is divided into 3 parts: 1) an elementary level for 6 to 7 years old children, 2) a mid level which is considered for 8 to nine years old children and 3) a terminal level for ten to eleven years youngsters

Bunia: A vibrant city of Eastern Congo (an aerial view) 1

Bunia is a vibrant city of Ituri Province, DR Congo. I am privileged as I got many times the opportunity to travel the area by UN helicopter at the time of security reconnaissance in respect of militia activities, civil protection or sometimes just to introduce the area from bird’s eye view to several UN officials. My Contingent Commander was also an important part of this type of activities; and I had to accompany my commander as the part of my job. Contingent commander tried to point all the important places, FARDC camps, camps of militia, our COB (Company Operation Base) and TOB (Temporary Operation Base) from helicopter and explain the recent activities so that the visitors can be up to date or aware of our works and at the same time they would be briefed about the overall situation in our area of responsibility (AoR).

The Ethnic Conflict of Eastern Congo

The Eastern part of DR Congo is unrest for decades. This part of the country, particularly, Eturi province is most vulnerable area in the whole Congo in terms of ethnic clash, several armed groups activities in mineral rich zones, looting conducted by various bandits groups who are taking chances of the absence of proper law and security order, raping, killing, abducting, hijacking and so on. Though the overall quantity of crimes has been decreased in the last few years, but still it is quite alarming. From the humanitarian ground, the region is considered full of dangers, civilian are insecure, women and children are passing the toughest time as usually as their unshakeable fates. The normal life of civilian is also being hampered  and  collapsed because of different sort of attacks, killing, looting etc. They are forced to pay them not only money, even they have to hand over their domestic animals e.g. cow, goat or hens whatever they belong to. Besides, being humiliated is a common occurrence for the innocent and helpless Congolese.

The days in Bunia

The first day of Bunia was really exciting and frightening as well. In the deep of a black night, I for the first time, arrived a remote and undevelopped city of the country middle Africa, DR Congo.

Living with Flower

Flowers are always beautiful. My days of Bunia were full of scent of flowers.

Generally military belongs to a tradition of growing and taking care of flowers and orchids in the premises of their office or residence. Very close to my room there was a long and tiny garden with many flowers that increased the scenic beauty of the surrounding. Its fragrance stimulated me a lot and could make my day enjoyable and refreshing.