Children of DR Congo: far from heaven

                                                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

Memory of new year 2012

A great day we passed on the eve of the last day of the year 2011 at  Mombasa sea coast, Kenya. I, along with my fellow peers and colleague, had decided to celebrate new year in some year of Africa. After a lot of thoughts, considering the feasibility of our plans, we agreed with the decision of visiting Mombasa, Kenya. The sea shore of Indian ocean is charming and magnificent that we could not resist ourselves not to travel to Kenya. One fine morning, the day was most probably 27 December 2011, having packed our backpacks we commenced our journey to Entebbe, Uganda. From Uganda, by bus we started our for Nairoby, Kenya.


incomplete................

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.

Je t'aime, Afrique!

Our days in DR Congo were charming, full of danger, full of adventures and of course sometimes very lonesome and tedious. In the first year, there were a lot of stuffs that could make me astonished, people were quite enchanting, and places were overwhelming. That year, everything was new, unknown, uncovered. So, boredom could hardly be capable of touching me, though I missed sometimes my family, my friends, my city and above all my beloved country. The Second and the last year, I became habituated to be there by this time. Of course, each year I went through a lot of new experiences, I understood and discovered the area in a new way, the people were being revealed from the different perspective. At the same time, I got involved unintentionally with the environment and circumstances as if I was the part of them, and I was there for years, and going to stay forever!

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

Anonymous faces ( Bunia Market Area, DRC)

Except few children, most of the African people hesitate to be photographed by an unknown. The women try to hide themselves if they confront any stranger with a camera. Of course, someone belong to the courage of protesting, stopping or even scolding the cameraman if he dares to take one's photos without their prior consent. So it is a bit tough to bring them in the lens without any permission. And if you are a sensible man, you will not like to irritate them. What you can do is trying to convince them, talk to them, be friendly with them and show your heartfelt respect to them. This approach can help you a lot, but that time they will be concerned, and you will not get their real look, their real motion and movement. You will only get someone who is ready to be filmed with a smiling face.  

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.

Tour to Epulu: the largest rainforest of DRC

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.

Good bye Congo, Good bye Africa

It's really a great experience to reside in Africa. From my boyhood I had a dream to live and travel there. Later I could make this dream true on 10 October 2010. With huge excitement I first came to my dream land, my dream continent. After 3 years I can remember those days. How fast time goes on. Just after 2 days, I will be in Bangladesh, a very important episode of my life is just going to reach an accomplishment. The days of Africa will be nothing but very lively remembrances.

To Work for Building a Healthy Nation

The people of DR Congo always fight against a lot of obstacles. From the very beginning of their birth, they have to struggle just to survive. Poverty, ethnic conflicts, attacks by the various rebel groups, banditry, lack of medical support, hazardous transport condition, scarcity of potable water, absence of electricity and good governance all are part of their daily life. This picture of life is  a real projection of life of maximum Congolese except few who are from privileged background. 

Portraits: the new generation of Africa

All the pictures have been taken from different places. During my visit in African countries for example DR Congo, Uganda and Kenya, Zambia I took chances to photograph these lively and lovely faces. Most of them were very eager to be photographed. Some felt shy to stand in front of the camera, however no picture was taken without their prior concern.  

A dreadful day with fight-whacked combatants

The troops, after an outrageous battle, came back to the barracks; we, on behalf of MONUSCO, went to evacuate the incapacitated soldiers for providing better treatment in level 2 hospital.

The fighting was in two groups, the regular armed force of DR Congo (FARDC) and The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) a Ugandan based rebel group active in mineral-rich eastern border area of DR Congo. The ADF had been formed in the year of 1996 comprised a group of fundamental Muslim secessionist in the Ruwenzori mountains area of western Uganda. This group was blamed to create a great havoc by blasting bombs at restaurants and markets in Kampala city in 1998. The Ugandan army attacked them several times and could make them weaker. To survive and protect themselves the rebel group progressed towards the frontier of DR Congo in 2004 and was hindering the security situation in the area. At present, they are accused of making a liaison with Somalia based rebel groups Al Shebab.

An FARDC soldier, at Mambasa, DRC

Expedition to the Heart of Darkness

The faded pinkish daylight was slowly disappearing. The sky of Eastern Africa was being covered with its mysterious darkness. The luminous stars were peeping out from behind the grayish clouds after their daylong rest. These universal phenomena caused more enigmas in the vast area of Africa. These shining bright stars were hardly capable of lightening and unfolding the indistinct scenes of the continent. I felt that night has just started.